Sisterhood

HI Ladies,

I wanted to write everything that I was experiencing at Relevant as I was experiencing it, but the time was too full.  Then I went home (don't you wish that you could stay on the mountain top a lot longer sometimes?), throwing me in the midst of Life.  Figure that.  And now it is four days and a page-turn on the calendar later!  So I am grabbing a few moments this morning before I take my daughter to co-op to share some thoughts with you.

First, PLEASE- please -please- do not let any one's talk about Relevant or anything else make you feel "out of the circle".  I know that some times when I hear about something great going on and I am missing it , then I can feel very isolated and lonely- or just not part of "it".  But I have to tell you that that feeling of isolation is not uncommon among all women, and I believe that the Holy Spirit is doing a work in Christ's body of uniting women's hearts in the bond of Christ and sisterly love.  THAT is one of the main themes that I had been pondering before Relevant and a recurring theme at Relevant.

The enemy wants us to feel all alone, but God's Holy Spirit is bringing to the forefront of our awareness that He wants His daughters to have an intimate bond of sisterhood.  Imagine relationships without competition, without malice, without self-seeking.  Aaaah- doesn't that sound refreshing?  Imagine joining hearts and hands with your sisters, sharing each other's joys, sorrows, and burdens.  That is what I see the Holy Spirit doing among us.

I am thrilled because that is what I wanted for LOV (Ladies Of Virtue) from the beginning- to create a community of women who are sisters in Christ, joining together on this journey of biblical womanhood, a distinct path with all the delights of living a godly life that is uniquely feminine.  Will you join in spirit?


This is a picture of my dear friend Angela Dively and I.  We were roomies.  She writes at AltogetherHis.com when a fire is under her bottom.

Blogging Bash and Relevant

I am heading to The Relevant Conference this weekend where I will hopefully meet you.  If you are unable to attend or are not even sure what Relevant is about, visit Courtney's site at the below link-up.  She will be posting video clips regularly from the conference.  Last year was such a tremendous refreshment for me spiritually...I left wanting more of Jesus, live with greater love towards my family, and a refreshed desire to write.  This year is sure not to disappoint.  I am looking forward to meeting some of the ladies that I regularly link up to such as LisaJo from The Gypsy Mama and Darlene Schact from The-time-Warp-Wife.

So THIS POST is for all of you visiting through the BLOG BASH 2011 link-up.  It is a pleasure to "meet" you (if I have not before!)

My name is Nicol spelled without an "e"; I guess my Mom wanted me to be "special".  In actuality I just seem to spend time explaining to people that "no my name does not have an 'e'"..."yes, it is different."  To add to that, my husband Aric, as you just read, spells his name with an "A" not the usual way of "Eric".  Our last name is "Epple" so sometimes people get it mixed up and think he is "Eric Apple".  Explaining this confusion is a conversation starter...."My husband is an identical twin.  His brother's initials spell ACE and his father wanted the same for my husband, thus the unusual spelling of "Aric".  I always like to digress into a conversation about twins.  My husband and his brother would be perfect laboratory specimens for twin psychological testing if they were so willing.

So a little about myself.  Maybe I should or could use this post for my "Hostess" page.  If you have visited there you will still find it blank.  All of these nuisances I am sharing, give you a little glimpse to my idiosyncrasiess which speak for themselves.  I DO procrastinate.  Organized I usually am and planning things is one of my favorite tasks.  However, some tasks though they remain on my "to do" list for weeks, I may not "get" to them until I have to.  It was a necessity for me to change the colors of LOV for the Fall, but writing about myself, well, I guess, I just procrastinate.  A little shy maybe.  I love to write, but writing about myself knowing that YOU are reading what I am writing to know more about ME, just kind of makes me shy away.  Though if you met me in person you would soon realize that I am very out-going.  As a girl I was very shy and I think that it has been God's grace working through me to go beyond my own insecurities and reach out to others.

So, with procrastinating no longer I give you a very short bio of myself.

I have known the Lord and Saviour Jesus Chirst since I was 16.  Three years later I married.  We have been married for twenty plus years so you can do the math as to my age.  Aric and I have four children: two teen boys and two girls (who are our princesses).  I have always enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom.  My home is my dominion and the place where my talents and skills can flourish.  It is a platform for my main service to our Lord- wife, mother, home maker, and hostess of hospitality.  I have done the bookkeeping for my husband's businesses for about 12 years now.  This keeps me plenty busy along with having home educated my children for thirteen years.  My oldest is graduated and just this year my youngest who is nine is attending a Montessori school.  The other two teens are studying at home.  We have a Golden named Cayla who adds lots of love and fur/dust balls to our wooden floors.
  
At my husband's idea I enrolled in college this year.  What a new adventure!  Here I am sitting with most students of whom I could be their Mother.  That is strange, but I am enjoying the whole experience.   With the foundation of the Word that I have, I am able to filter and gleam all of the information to see the Big Picture of God's hand throughout history. I love that and love learning.  For me at this time in my life, attending the University is working and has been a wonderful experience thus far.  The educational road ahead of me is long, but I have my goal as my focus: I want to write and teach about "Womens' Influence Upon Culture throughout History".  That is actually the title of the Letters, Arts, & Sciences degree I am earning.  Needless to say, I still clean my house, plan the family's schedule, help the children with their lessons, chauffeur children, budget and pay bills, shop, cook, and all of the other tasks that we do as women- my time for writing has been stinted.

Encouraging women remains a burning desire in my heart.  I have lead or written bible studies for women, teens, and girls for about sixteen years now.  Seven years ago I went forward with my desire to connect with other women for prayer, support, and encouragement; I started Ladies Of Virtue.  We meet monthly for bible study, prayer, and fellowship.  I soon realized the benefit of women connecting and I wanted to extend my reach to encourage women and teach truths from scripture.  Combining my love for writing I brought LOV to the Internet community in 2007.   My goal for Ladies Of Virtue is to provide a platform where women can receive encouragement and biblical instruction to build us up in our roles as godly women, wives, mothers, sisters, servants, and homemakers. I discuss my ponderings and studies from scripture covering topics on womanhood, femininity, marriage, parenting, godliness, homemaking (which offers a limitless supply of topics some of which include cooking, cleaning, organizing, budgeting, decorating, crafting, and the list goes on), and anything else that peaks my interest.              Here is where I write for LOV on my laptop

in my kitchen.  I really DO have flowers there and a candle burning (I didn't just "stage"it).  I surround myself with all of the sensual catalysts for creativity and comfort that I can, including strong, hot coffee!

                                   

This is my chair in our sun room where I spend time in prayer and studying.  You can see the book shelves beside it that hold about one-eighth of my book collection.  Give me air, give me water, and I must have books!

If you have graced me with your visit, please leave a comment so that I can "know" you too.

 

Here is the link up for the Relevant Blog Bash

Beyond

This morning as the darkness of night still paints the sky and I "stop, drop, and write" for a few moments about BEYOND and what it brings to my mind.

I study the scriptures and put them in topical sense.  I do this so that I might share with you hope and encouragement- BEYOND- we will KNOW just as "we have been made known".

I endure hurts and heartaches, disappointments and sorrows- just as you- I remember that BEYOND there will be no more tears.  All will be perfect.

I wash dishes, clean toilets, make beds, and car pool children- for today.  These sanctified tasks are holy because I am living in the BEYOND now.  Not fully, in part to be sure, but I have one foot in and what a glorious day it will be- to be fully bodied in BEYOND.  How about you?


Linking today with the Gypsy Mama.

Catch

Letting words topple from my head to hands for just five minutes....
Today's prompt with The Gypsy Mama is CATCH-

I sit here with my fingers placed on the keys ready to type- fast.  Ususally in these 5-minute prompt writings my  thoughts are flowing so free that they threaten to topple nonsensical onto the screen as I anxiously race that five minute clock.

Today I just....hmm?  "What is the first thing that comes to mind when I hear 'catch'?"  Well, there was that baseball I wish that I had caught before my little blonde haired boy tossed it through our living room window.

There are the colds of the season that I do NOT want to catch....and the flus.

What do I want to catch this morning?
Fire- I want to catch that fire when I see His other disciples blazing hot with zeal for His kingdom.

I want to catch that love I see in others with light in their eyes as they speak of His workings in their life.

I want to catch dreams that make me aspire towards the clouds.

I want to catch every good thing that the Father has for me.  The list is too long to fill in a blog post but I will name these: GRACE and JOY and PEACE and CONTENTMENT and A LIFE WITH OUT "SHOULD DO'S and SHOULD HAVE DONE'S" and SECURITY and PURPOSE.... and my time has run out. 

THOSE things I want to catch and never let go of.



 

Joining today with

                                                         

Fall Colors

"The fields are harvested and bare,

And Winter whistles through the square.

October dresses in flame and gold

Like a woman afraid of growing old."

-Anne Mary Lawler

Autumn is here! a favorite time of the year.

How do you like the new fall look for LOV?  Thank you Traci from OrdinaryInspirations.blogspot.com !

I am an old fashioned fashionista that does not wear open-toed shoes when they would get cold.  Pastels and white only don my body after Labor Day if they are connected to fur or a dark color.  I always need change of visual color; I am so thankful that the Creator changes our scenery constantly.

Enjoy the brilliance of God's handiwork this season.


Linking today with ladies from

Friends

Writing for 5 minutes today with others about FRIENDS.  How do we embody all that a friend is in just five minutes?

GO.

You are my friend when waves are smooth and we play and splash in life's adventures or even the adventures that we make for each other.

You are my friend when the waves roll.  We talk, we vent, we laugh.  We ride the waves together.

You are my friend when toss and tempest separate our holding of hands.  Life's bellows roll over us.  Not usually at the same time.  Your prayers hold me up above the water when otherwise my head would go under.  And my prayers for you reach out and make sure you are secure with your Life Vest.

You are friend and you always shall be.  We laugh, we cry, we share heart aches and mishaps.  We swim together and it would not be the same with out you.

STOP.



 
 

Visit other friends at  thegypsymama.com

A Confession and God's Goodness

I have a confession to make, but first, I want you to read the following scripture very carefully.

"What leads to strife and how do conflicts originate among you?  Do they not rise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?  You are jealous and covet (what others have) and your desires go unfulfilled; (so) you become murderers.  You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain (the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek),  so you fight and war.  You do not have, because you do not ask. Or you do ask God for them and fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives.  Your intention is (when you get what you desire) to spend it in sensual pleasure. You (are like) unfaithful wives (having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God!)  .....Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit (to be welcome) with a jealous love.  But He gives more grace (power to of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully.)  That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty , but gives grace (continually) to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it.) ~James 4:1-4, 4-6 Amplified

Does that living word cut into your heart and bring to light any thought and intentions that were hidden deep within its recesses?

A couple of week's ago I was lamenting with a friend that while I feel called to write and teach I do not feel like it is going anywhere.  The desire to encourage and comfort.women in their Christian faith is a fire burning in my belly.  However, I often struggle with envy.  There it is that green, ugly word- ENVY.  What else can I call it?  When I see other bloggers grow without measure, their ministry exploding- I want that for myself.  I want to have thousands of readers hanging on my words, be asked to do radio shows, and television cameos. But why?  Is it so that thousands of women are comforted and exhorted or so that I can feel more important?  I have to admit that it is both.  But therein, lies the struggle and warring within myself.  The battling between my heart and mind and my logic and desires. 

"Why do I have such a strong desire to share the abundant Life in Christ?"  I answer myself, "Because I want to see them living it too."  I have prayed for more open doors, more opportunities to write and teach.   Time passes and things remain idle.

A shadow in the background of my heart whispers to me, "Then why can you not rejoice when others are doing well and being used mightily by God?"   Ugh!  I know the creed of the Upside-down-blogger: I write for One and leave the fruit of my labors for Him to grow.  I know not to compare myself with others.  I known that we are each unique individuals with a unique work.  Then I visit blogs, read the books, hear of their news and I turn green.

The battle!  That is what it feels like, a tug-of-war within my soul. 

I confess this to a friend.  I pray and ask God to help me be glad about other's success.  I remain aware of my sinful heart, but trust that He will help.  Still. I expect a Divine scolding, a reprimand, and a pruning.  

The next day at our church service I am asked to lead the Women's Retreat.  I am floored;  humility cloaks me.  "You want ME?"  I feel so honored.  And in that moment I had a fresh sweet taste of God's goodness.  He was saying to my heart that He purifies my motives, He hears, He gives me my desires, and He has me right where He wants me. 

Can you feel the comfort in that?  The release of selfishness?  I am in awe that my Father granted my desire and opened this door.  That Goodness humbles me.  In this moment I am content.  I am gratified.

I am happy for YOU.   May YOU who are writing be blessed mightily.

 

Linking today with Women living Well, A Holy Expereince and Raising Homemakers.

Growing Pains

GROWING.

Growing sounds like a wonderful, splendid thing.  And it is.

But to grow big, grow up, grow wise, there always exists growing PAINS.

I am experiencing this now through my daughter.  Being always educated at home this is her first year in a school setting.  I thought that the Montessori approach would be a smooth transition for her.  It should be.
But overshadowing her education experience has been her new experience with MEAN girls.  I should have known; known that THEY are everywhere.  But it as been since I was in school that I have seen them around affecting me personally.

My daughter is going through a life growing experience learning how to handle unpleasant situations and people. She cries.  Her belly aches.  I do the same FOR her.  These growing pains are not pleasant and as with any pain I want it to be relieved.

The saving grace is that she is growing and I am too.

Linking today with other five minute heart-word weavers at

Hide God's Word in Your Heart

Hide God's Word in your heart- store it up for the future.

"Let the word spoken by Christ the Messiah have its home in your hearts and minds and dwell in you in all its richness as you teach and admonish and train one another..."

-Colossians 3:16a, Amplified

As I grow older and my walk with the Lord deepens, I am more and more convinced that He wants His word to become a part of us.  His word is all that shall stand.  His word is our anchor in this ocean wave-tossing life.  His word is an expression of Himself in His Son Jesus (John 1:1,14)  Scripture is His annointed word to us.

In a recent post I encouraged you to eat daily of His word till it becomes part of your muscles and marrow.  And it does; His word becomes entwined in your heart and soul.  His Word abides in us (1John 2:14)  His Word becomes a part of us that is ready to instruct, exhort, and encourage when the opportunity requests it. (2Timothy 4:2)

I have also been thinking that one of the best ways to incorporate His word (notice the word "incorporate" literally means "to put into the body") is to go beyond reading it.  But to read it, pray over it, meditate on its meaning and the One who speaks it, and to MEMORIZE IT.  Jesus tells us, "Remember the word that I said unto you." (John 15:20a)

So I am bringing accountability to myself as I write, that I will begin the discipline of memorizing a verse a week. (I know some fabulous ladies who are memorizing entire books; a verse or two a week is enough to feed me for now.)

If you want to endeavor in this challenge with me, keep the prize before you- His Holy Spirit brings to your remembrance His word in you.  You will be a healing salve to the hurting soul and a balm to her who needs a word of encouragement in due season.  The effective words will be on the tip of your tongue when disciplining your children and the Spirit will bear witness in them that what you are saying is true.  When battles with the enemy cannot be avoided you will fight him with our weapon of defense and offense- His word. (Ephesians 6:17)

Are you ready? 

Linking today with WomenLivingWell and RaisingHomemakers.

Homemaking Tips- Organizing- "Sort through your Recipes"

Do you do as I do and print out recipes from your favorite cooking sites?  Or scrawl the recipes on whatever scratch paper that you have at hand?  Do you collect cooking magazines or rip out recipes from Ladies magazines with the intention of trying them out someday?

Where do all of these recipes end up?  and how do you find them when you want to?

After a year of adding these mismatched papers and torn magazine pages to twenty-plus years of other favorite recipes, the assortment was overflowing and tumbling out of my Hoosier cabinet like Niagra Falls that could not be damned up.  I needed to get them organized so that I could find the recipe that I am in search of when I need it.

This week's tip is to sort through your recipes.

For twenty years I have had my recipes organized in two boxes: one for deserts and the other for entres. However, it was long ago that the recipe cards began to overflow these two little boxes.  I have so many now that when I open the door of my Hoosier cabinet where they are housed, the cards tumble out!

I had had the intention of doing this project since last winter and in my quest I have found that there are many ways recipe cards can be creatively stored.  With the renewed rage in cooking these days you should be able to find these kind of recipe holders in a wide variety.  I have found several recipe holders that are similar to photo albums, the kind that you could slip a photo (or recipe) in its own individual sleeve.  The other day I purchased one that can stand on its own with the recipe card sealed in plastic so that it will not get my messy-cook fly-aways on it.  I like the stand because my messy fingers always leave marks on the cards.  (Messy cooks are good cooks right?)  I am saving this one for cookie recipes.  

When I have a recipe card I use a metal reicipe card holder that I have acquired, this helps from me having to pick up the card so often. By the way I have bought an assortment of attractive blank recipe cards and will rewrite all of the ones covered in grease spots or the ones that I had printed out from the computer onto paper.  They will be much easier to find in this form that just papers sitting on a shelf.  Also, if you are going to take the time to rewrite the recipe, make sure it is one that you want to keep.  I have been sorting through and finally tossed into the garbage many reicipes that my family does not like, or I accumulated with the intention of trying (like Greek moussaka that I never did make).  I will categorize the recipes such as Breakfast, Appetizers, Soups, Salads, Entres: Beef, Poultry, Seafood, Deserts, Cookies, Drinks, and Holiday Specials. In all honesty this has been an ongoing, albeit quite relaxed summer project for me- but the progress is apparent and I appreciate my efforts when it is time to meal plan.   



I love to receive recipe cards in the giver's handwriting. When I pull the cards from their recipe box and begin to cook I immediately feel close and connected with the person that graciously shared their cooking secrets.  Some day (not this week!) I would like to create a recipe journal or recipe scrapbook of family recipes. I would like to give one to each of my daughters (and future daughters-in-law). But until I have time to undertake that project I would just like to organize my cards so that they are not overflowing in the boxes.



Look forward to the soon-coming Fall days when the chill in the air will bring a desire to fill your kitchen with the waft of sweet smelling baked goods and comfort foods and your recipes will be ready and waiting for use.

Linking today with

REST for Body, Mind, and Spirit

Today's prompt for 5 Minute Friday is REST.
Go.

AAAHHH.  Who feels that they get too much rest?  Is not rest something we Mothers long for more of?

I am reminded that God gives us a rest that takes us through all of life's busyness, routines, to-do lists, stress, and schedules.  It is called the Sabbath and He has told us to keep it holy.  How amazing of our Creator to command that we take one day in seven to cease from our labors and rest.  To be refreshed and rejuvenated by focusing all of our waking hours that day on Him and family and friends.  He understands our human weaknesses.

But there is another rest He speaks of and implores me to enter.  If you read Hebrews chapter 4 you will hear the beckoning of Him to cease from our human strivings- to bring to a complete halt our vain attempts to reach God's favor by our imagined human goodness.  He says, "Come as you are hidden in my Son and have complete rest."  This rest takes my soul and makes it happily swing in a hammock.

We need this physical and spiritual rest, because in this life we still face hardships.  Whethter it is the stress of unemployment, the sleepless night from nursing babes, the heartache of hearing your child get teased at recess, or improsonment because of your faith in the Christ who is so despised in your country, you WILL face tribulation.  But His rest sustains us.

Our souls long for the day when that rest will be made perfect.  He gives us that HOPE as well.  Tiresomeness from dealing with this fallen world, weariness from fighting the enemy from without and within, experiencing the slow decay of our bodies- there is a complete rest that awaits us dear believer.  Let you soul be filled with hopeful expectation today as you encounter this life's hardships.

Linking today with

Eat of God's Bread Daily

The exhortaion for today, the spiritual application of yesterday's practical one is to eat of God's Bread- daily.  Eat of it till the Word becomes a part of you, till it makes up the fibers of your sinew and muscles of your heart.

"Man shall not live by bread alone

but by every word that comes from the Father in heaven." 

-Matthew 4:4

Surround yourself with it.

Memorize it.

In a practical sense place index cards above your kitchen sink and bathroom mirror.  Have your bible handy by your favorite chair.  Read the Word together after dinner while everyone surrounds the table.

And dear blogger-reader- read it for yourself.  Do not depend on receiving your daily spiritual manna from what you read on blogs.  Grab the Book and read it to yourself.

Meditate on it.  Pray the Holy Spirit to reveal new, fresh revelation of it.

Jesus said that we are kept alive by its daily consumption.  Are you full or hungry?

Joining with other Word seekers at



Homemaking Tips, Part 5- "Organizing- Freezing for the Future"

"She laughs at the time to come..."

The Homemaking Tip for this week is to "freeze for the future".

I love this tip because it has given me the gift of time
 by cutting the time needed for regular dinner preparation.

                                            

Do you freeze or can?  If not here is a good tip to get you started without being too overwhelming.  When you are at your local produce market notice what they have on sale.  This time of year there is an abundance of garden vegetables and fruits.  Yesterday I purchased an assortment of brightly colored green and red peppers.  I will wash and dry them, then both dice and cut into strips.  They will go into a ziploc bag that is labeled (remember to do that as their appearance can be disguised after freezing).   Voile!  You have frozen-fresh tasting peppers for a future meal.   I have the conveneience when I cook chili, a Mexican dinner,  hot sausage sandwiches, meatloaf, or anything I want to siply take them out of the freezer. Vegetables with the nutrients sealed in and a fraction of the cost.  If you are feel bold (and you have enough freezer space) try freezing a year's worth.  The grocer may give you another discount if you purchase a box or more.

Another super tip that my Mother raves about is freezing tomatoes whole.  So much sipler than even canning them!  Wash and dry your tomatoes, cut out its "belly button" (you know, that spot where it is connected to the stem.  Does that have a name?  It's not a core?....) and place the WHOLE tomatoe into a freezer bag.  When you want to use them just rinse the tomatoes in warm running water and the skin will easily peel away!  It will be ready for any soup or stewed tomatoes recipe.

Today I am heading to my local store to purchase enough apples to make several dishes of Apple Crisp. Yum!  I prefer Macintosh; I like the added tartness and their soft consistency when baked.  I will wash, peel, core, and slice the apples then place enough in a gallon size freezer bag to save for another day.  Of course making a dish for tonight's dinner as well. *Another note- the "Crisp" part of the recipe can be made in large quantities and saved as  well.  Just omit the butter.   

It is not hard to have home-made, delicious food stuffs handy; it just takes a little planning.  Enjoy!

          "She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar." ~Proverbs 31:14

Linking today with other Homemakers at

            

Getting OLDER

Painting verbal pictures today with The Gypsy Mama- for five minutes- five minutes only for some writing.

Today's prompt is OLDER.

Go.Older is a word that I have been thinking about all year.  I have completed four decades of my life and am entering the fifth.  Wow.  That sounds old to me!

If by strenngth I would live until I am 80, then that makes me completely, perfectly middle-aged right now. 

Funny, if you have already reached this halmark you understand exactly- that age is relative.  When I was a teen and my parents were in their 40's I thought that was OLD.  Today I see healthy people in their 60's living full, satisfying lives and I think "that's NOT so old!"  Or vivacious seniors in their 70's that add new meaning to "elderly".  I see mothers with toddlers and am surprised at how young they look themselves.

It has been a deep year for me in which I have been pondering about the things of life.  What I have done and where do I want to go?  What else would I like to do in this so very grand adventure?

It has been a turning of chapters for me.  That is a good thing for I love to grab hold of a new book.  But I have to admit sometimes it is hard to put that novel that so touched me back on the book shelf after eading the last page.  Someties I want to take myself and just hang out and live in its world.  I did though, put it on the bookshelf, knowing that I can always take a visit again. 

I pick up the new book and see there are no words in it yet; I have to write them every day.


For other 'blurps" on OLDER visit

Make Room for Unexpected Happenings

Is your life so jammed that you have no room for unexpected happenings?

Yesterday you were exhorted to clean out your cupboards and pantry.  Throw away the spoiled, organize the food stuff still waiting to be eaten, and plan for its use.

Purposeful living is just like that too.  Periodically we need to throw away those things that jam up the flow of good, simple living.  Maybe it is your schedule that is jammed.   Maybe it is unrealistic expectations.   Maybe it is your attitude.

Today I want you to be aware of having margin in your life.  Do you remember the lined notebook paper that you used in school?  There was a red line at the left side and a blue one at the right that showed you where to begin and end your writing sentences so that you would have margin around your paper.  We need that same margin in our lives.  Think of a bumper zone where that little bit of cushion prevents bang-ups.

Now I know that with school beginning most of our lives at this time of year get so busy we feel in a whirl wind.  School lessons, chauferring, piano lessons, soccer games.  Some of us have needy toddlers and babies, constant dirty dishes, doctor's appointments, and a multitude of other activities beckoning our presence. 

Try- just try- to schedule if you can some time when you and your family does not have anything to do.  You will be most pleasantly surprised how that time will get filled up, and it certainly will.  Maybe with a spontaneous stroll with your husband or child that you do not usually get one on one time with.


I also need to remind myself about my expectations.  Having expectations so high for myself and others does not allow room for mess-ups and even failures.  We are all human and bound to disappoint one another many times this side of heaven.  Allow some room for falls to be done gracefully so that they (or you) can get back up.  Nothing stifles and smothers like judgement.
 
And lastly for today allow some room in your attitude that there is always more to learn and more wisdom to be gained.  No one likes a know-it-all.  Keep the humble attitude that there is always more room to grow.  Like Paul who professed, "Not that I have already obtained...or been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus as took old of me....I press on....all of us who are mature should take such a view of things."  -Philippians 3:12-15 (in part) NIV
 
Dear sister make room in your life for unexpected happenings and see what good things await you.
 
 
Linking today with

Homemaking Tips, Part 4- "Organizing- clean out your cupboards..."

Mother Hubbard had cupboards.... and I bet you do too.  Ones that are full.

The homemaking suggestion for this week is to clean out your refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards. 

 The tip for this week is really a great one to get an inventory of your food stuffs!  After you throw away outdated, stale, and spoiled food (I just through away a vegetable that was unrecognizable.) you will have an assessment of what you have left.  Then the next plan is to make menus using what you already have in your kitchen and pantry.

  Do you only purchase what you actually cook that week or month?  Or are you like me and tend to leave a turkey breast forgotten in the back of my freezer?  About once every season I like to go through my pantry and freezer and take stock....I then plan our meals to use everything up. 

 It is such a great feeling that the perishables are being consumed.  

I have a girlfriend that especially loves empty cupboards that she fills weekly.  Her frugality prompts her to only buy what she will use that week.  I am of the sort that if I see something on sale I grab a couple for future use.  Having two refrigerators/freezers plus a full size freezer lots of goods can get stored away.  However, I do try every season to go through my stuffs as I am suggesting to make sure everything gets rotated and consumed.  This week I found that I had five bottles of Chili sauce!  There is one particular chicken recipe that my family enjoys in which the chili sauce is crucial.  When I see that item in the grocery store I pick one bottle up so that I have it on hand if needed.  But I don't need five at once!  

(I also found 6 cans of mandarin oranges, three bottles of A1 sauce.  It is fine to stock up on items but it would take a while for our family to go through these.)   

So grab a notebook and pen and head to your kitchen.  Make a list of  what frozen meats that you have.  Then go to your cupboards and make a list of canned and dry goods that you use to make meals and desserts.  Use this list to plan your future meals. 
You will be so happy that your food stuffs are getting eaten! 

Linking today with

Newness

Fridays I am having fun taking 5 minutes to "finger paint with words" as The Gypsy Mama so creatively says. The prompt for today-

NEW.
GO.

I do not think that life would be the same without NEW.

To me there is something so grand about NEW. 

I love the smell of a new car.  (Though I have never bougt a brand new, I have gotten some that had that smell.  They must have just sprayed it in during detailing.)  It's the smell of "drive me on great excursions and unbelievable adventures."

Oh, the blank journal- I love that!  Sometimes I do not even finish the one I am using because I love the newness of the empty one beckoning me to transpose my deepest thoughts and crazy ponderings.

A new wallet.  Some of you may be using the same wallet that you have been for the last 10 years.  But I like me a new wallet every now and then.  No scuff marks, no pen marks.  New pockets and zippers all waiting to be filled with life's receipts and the green stuff.

A new book.  Love it.   A story awaiting for me to unfold and wrap my thoughts and feelings around.

A new baby.  Well, that just surpassed them all, doesn't it?  The newness of life- bringing hope, joy, expectancy, and wonder.

I love new.  It's the new beginnings of life yet to be lived and the surprises that await.




Linking today with other 5 minutes wonders at

Catch the Little Foxes

What clutter is is your life? stealing away precious time?  Causing havoc because of disorganiziation?

What little foxes come in and steal your peace and joy?  worry? fear? discontent?

Yesterday's homemaking tip was to sort through your food storage containers.  It does not take much brain but it does take encouragement as a catalyst sometimes because chores like that never seem to get done until they MUST be dealt with.

But isn't life itself like that?  Are not our hearts like that?  We have little stressors in our lives that we allow to eat away at our peace bite by bite and we do nothing about it.  We have small issues in our hearts that put just a little fog on an otherwise sunny demeanor.

I am not speaking of the things that are out of our control, like the rain preventing a planned picnic or the missing hot dogs that you bought yesterday for today's lunch and now they are gone.  With inspection you discover that your teen age son had a hot dog binge at midnight.  Well, maybe THAT one could have been in your control with better  "tell-me-when-you-plan-on-eating-the-hot-dogs" parental discipline.  Most everything is really out of our control.  However, most of what we allow into our schedules and hearts is within our realm of supervision and submission.

It is the little things that grow into big things that we are exhorted to guard and get rid of.

"Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom." -Song of Solomon 2:15

And it is the little things that trip us up is it not? 

You are too tired to host the bible study at your house, but you are the one who invited everyone.

Your friend just bought the pair of pumps that you have been wanting and could not afford.

Your niece just got a scolarship to Yale while you are struggling to get your teen to remember multiplication.

Your kids are driving you to Google "trips to Mars" but you are the one who wanted so many- kids that is.  (Or so my husband has reminded me.)

These are some temporary causes of irritation- if we let it.  The longer I live the more I am realizing that PERSPECTIVE is everything.  EVERYTHING.  Perspective can take my mind and heart to a place of anger or depression before I know how it got there.   But perspective can also be the weapon that kills those little foxes eating all of my good grapes.  Perspective can be the salt that preserves my fruit.

I only have space to address few issues that spoil your fruit.  I have brought up scheduling and the HEART which is a huge area all unto itself.  But simply, as for scheduling- manage it.  Do what you have to do, plan for what you want to do (some of the time), and allow space to fill in your schedule when life's "didn't expect that" times arrive.

As for your heart.  Well, we have been given the entire bible to instruct us on what to do about it.  Guard your heart and keep your perspective His.  That is enough water and sunshine to keep the fruit growing.  And have no mercy on the little foxes.  They grow up and when they do they eat more.  And they meet other foxes and have baby foxes and then you are dealing with a whole lot of them.

What little foxes will you be hunting down today?

Linking today with other hunters from



by John Rae 1918 

Homemaking Tips- Organizing, Part 3, "Sort through your food storage items"

I am posting a series on "Home Making Tips- Orgainizing".  Today is Part 3. 

Now a homemaker's work is exactly practical and also deeply spiritual.  You as a homemaker are living out God's will for your life.  Read Titus Chapter 2 if you have not done so before.  Though some of the mundane tasks that must occupy some of your time are just that (by definition) m-u-n-d-a-n-e, belonging to the world, (and included for our definition here) routine and boring, these same tasks bring order, sanity, and higher functioning to your dwelling place.  So, dear sister, gird yourself.

No, if you thought that we would be discussing cleaning your toilets, hang on, something not quite as fun and fanastic.  This week make time to sort out your food storage cupboard.  This task is so dry to me that I had to give it (and my mind) a little flair with that introduction.  Because setting all of those plastic containers "just right" in their place is so "blaahhh" to me I only do it about twice a year.  I know the tie has arrived when I tire of opening the cupboard, which happens to be placed above y height, and have plastic lids and containers fall on top of my head.  I

It was just such a day.  I opened the door to put a little plastic cube in its happy spot and "Tham!" (Is that a word?  "Whack!" was not right.) down on my head topple it  bringing three others along.  I let out a noise of frustration and anger (not angry at the plastic, it cannot help being placed precariously on top of others, but at myself for not taking more time to do it "properly".) Shove!  I now shove the four containers into place, not "their" place but any open space in which they may stay. 

Just as I let go, "Tham!"  Down upon my head now comes more lids and containers.  "Grrrr!"  The noise coming from my belly is now sounding animal like and ready for warfare.  I repeat this process two more times before I cave in.  "OKAY!!!!"

I take out every piece of plastic inhabiting that cupboard.  I have my guns ready and plan to execute. Not one of those containers gets returned to a comfy new home unless it has a lid to go with it!!  I pair them up and am left with quite a few extra, not married, containers.  Now, I know the frugal in you is coming up with plans for those singles...containers to hold water when your kids paint, a lap bowl for you dog at a picnic, whatever.  I say that they do not have a lid, which disqualifies them to be in my now completely neat-because-every-container-has-a-lid-and-I-will-not-have-them-toppling-on-my-head-cubboard.   

Yes, I DID get rid of a lot of normally perfect plastic but look at the happy pairs that I left.  Each one is content and ready for service.  I know that with their lids on they take up much more room, but I did not need that many anyway.  That grew the problem; I had too many I did not even use. 

And now I am a happier Homemaker! 

Are you still getting your head toppled?