The Simple Life at Home

1. I need to remove all the books from the room. First off, I need to identify those books which I can list on eBay and get that done. Then, whatever isn't worth listing on eBay and I don't want to keep, I just need to donate to Goodwill. I'd like to cut the number of bookshelves down from 4 to 2.
2. I need to either convince my son (not likely) to get rid of the Imaginext toys or move them to the garage, or find a better system for storing them. Currently they are filling 3 under-the-bed boxes (which don't even fit under the bed) and are always in the way.
3. I need to make a system which will encourage my kids to put away cds and cd-roms when they are finished with them - right now they get left out and are all over the place, not good when you are talking about $175 curriculum cds!!
4. I'd like to paint the room. It's right now a shade of salmon (what was I thinking?!?!?) and I want to paint it a nice neutral sand color, matching the main living areas of the house.
5. I need to get the closet door to stay on. It keeps coming off every time we put it back up. Any tips on how those things work?
6. I need to figure out a better place to store the large green ottoman until we are ready to have a garage sale and sell that set. It doesn't fit in any other room and it would get ruined in the garage, but this just isn't working.
7. I need to make a shelf or two to be dedicated to the school equipment (microscope, globe, etc.).
8. I'd like to put a pretty tablecloth or table skirt on this ugly utility table that we are using for a computer desk right now. Ugh!!
9. And finally, I need to devise a way to get it to stay nice when I'm done. It seems like every time I get this room straightened up it ends up like this again.

So there you have it. I have allowed you to see what no other humans outside my family have seen. Don't you feel special? Now I'm off to get to work!!

To see what other bloggers are working on, head on over to The Organizing Junkie to see more 30-Day Organizational Challenge participants!

Ok, so I can't really take credit for this idea - I got it from Lisa Whelchel's wonderful book "Creative Correction." If you don't have it and you have kids - you need this book!!

Let's just say that once in a while (certainly not every single day of my life!) certain people of the short variety decide to have some ugly stuff come out of their mouths. It might be sass, it might be unkind words to a brother or sister, it might be a lie. Anything that involves a sin of the tongue, I have a special "reward" for. Picture me here rubbing my hands and doing my best evil laugh here.

If something yucky comes out of their mouth, something yucky goes in - vinegar. Now, to adults such as you and I, vinegar is a delightful ingredient in salads and many other things. But to a child? Pure torture, I tell you. My children would rather be grounded, rather get a spanking, rather be locked outside for 6 days straight than have to get some vinegar put in their mouth.

But it has helped them to remember to keep their words "sweet" not "sour." I know lots of moms use soap or hot sauce, both of which I just could never bring myself to do. But vinegar is an actual food product that's safe to ingest, and isn't actually painful, just, well, sour.

It works miracles, I tell you!! And that works for me! For more great ideas, be sure to visit Rocks in My Dryer!

Who are we?

As Christian women, there are often many different roles we fill. Wives, mothers, friends, daughters, sisters, church members. If you work, whether in or out of the home, there is more to do there. If you homeschool, you are teacher, administrator and principal all rolled up into one.

Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. There can be so many demands on our time it's exhausting. Just today, I have to:

• teach my children math, science, Ancient Greece, vocabulary and more
• bake brownies for our homeschool group's Fall party at noon
• maintain (oh, who are we kidding!!) CLEAN the house,
• go to buy paint to re-paint our rental property
• make several phone calls to get necessary information to fill out forms for our homeschool group
• take my son to speech therapy
• repair my son's Zorro costume (damaged in a party over the weekend, but needed for tomorrow night's Harvest Fest at church)

But what helps is to remember our priorities - our Biblical priorities, that is. What is it that God has called us to do?

First and foremost, we are called to worship Him. We are called to live in fellowship with the Creator of the world. This must take precedence over all else.

Second comes our callings as wives. Honoring my husband's requests (such as going to Wal-Mart) must be seen as our highest priority after our relationship with God is tended to. I know that as busy moms, it's very easy to put our children in this place, but that is a mistake. Our children will grow and live their own lives, but our marriages must last our lifetime. When we put our husbands in second place, we damage that relationship, sometimes irretrievably. Ladies, always make your husband your priority!

After our husbands come our children. This is usually the easiest need for most women to meet, primarily because it's the most urgent. Children need this or that and they need it NOW. But in your meeting of their needs, be careful to be discerning. Meeting every desire and whim can be dangerous. Be careful to allow your children to learn to be content with simple things - a hard thing to do in today's world. More than this, allowing your children to dictate your schedule can be overwhelming as well. Remember that you are the parent and children need your wisdom and guidance. Be their parent, not their friend. It's very easy to set up an almost idolatrous relationship with your kids - allowing meeting their needs to be your ultimate goal and highest priority. Be careful, Mom, to keep your precious children from bearing that burden.

Next comes our homes. Making a beautiful home for your family is a high calling. You are able to create a place of refuge and beauty - a place for your family to come to where they can be fed, restored and loved after being buffeted by the world. Please don't see caring for your home simply as cooking and cleaning - dreaded chores that must be done. Try to see it as creating a haven. No one else can do this - a maid can clean, but she cannot make home the special place your family needs. It is something only a mother can do.

All other activities enter into the picture after these things are cared for. If you need to take a break from outside things in order to get the other priorities in order, seriously considering doing that. It will be a blessing to your family and yourself.

Waiting, that is.

Waiting to know if I will be, indeed, moving to the other side of the world. Waiting to know if our lives will be turned upside down. Waiting to know what new adventures await us.

The reality of the situation has begun to set in for my kids. They, understandably, are experiencing some very mixed emotions. They are sad at the possibility of moving away from friends, from the only church they've ever known. They are heartbroken that they may have to give up our dog (but shhhh...I'm investigating how costly it would be to get our dog over there. I don't want to tell them in case it doesn't work out, but I'd sure like to do it for them).

Personally, I'm just anxious to know so that I can move on with life. I'm a big planner (not always so good at following the plan, but I have to have the plan!) and being in such a state of uncertainty is causing me a lot of stress.

Each time one of my kids mention something that will be happening past, oh, say February, I panic because I don't know - I don't know if they'll be here to have a birthday party (Emily's 13th! I'd hate to pull her away from that!), I don't know if Daniel can go on the 4th and 5th grade retreat in April, I don't know if we'll be here for VBS - one of their favorite times of the year. I just don't know. And I hate that.

But maybe, just maybe, this is what God had planned. Maybe He is trying to teach me something through this. To just let go and trust Him. To let Him do whatever it is and to just follow His lead.

I have to say that I think I'm handling the whole thing pretty well. I mean, moving to the Middle East was never part of the plan, to be honest. But I find myself perfectly at peace with the idea. Actually, I'm kind of excited about it. It's just the uncertainty that is disconcerting to me.

But I find myself learning more and more that all of life is uncertain. Regardless of all the "planning" I do, I'm not really in control. I may have that illusion, but it's just that - smoke and mirrors. In the end, God is sovereign and His will will be done. He has ordained our steps from the beginning of time.

And I'm so thankful for that.

Wow - it's the end of October already! Can you believe it? This year seems to have just flown by. The holidays are almost here. I love this time of year - once October is over, you can bet I'll be pulling out my Christmas cds. By December 26th, I'll be so sick of them, but I can't wait to get into the holiday spirit!!

On to this week's menu.

Monday - Spaghetti, cheese toast, tossed salad

Tuesday- Bezella with white rice and salad

Wednesday - Mezze (hummous, tabouli, cheeses, pita bread, pickles, olives, etc.) I know I serve this every Wednesday, but now that the kids and I are at church on Wednesday evenings, this is the perfect meal for my Middle Eastern hubby to enjoy - easy to prepare, keep and clean up after!

Thursday - Scallops Charleston, wild rice, roasted broccoli

Friday - Blackened Chicken Salad (we have our small group meeting this evening so this will be what I bring to that - it's an Applebee's recipe)

Saturday - Lentils & Rice with a lemony salad

Sunday - Sandwiches, cole slaw (made up on Saturday), chip (I'm trying to keep Sunday meals very simple and easy to prepare and clean up after)

So that's it! We are having some repeats - I'm still trying to use up ingredients I have in the fridge and pantry to cut back a little on our grocery expenses. I'm hoping that things will ease up a bit soon so I can get back on to my 8 Week Menu Plan - it really does save me so much time and make life so much easier!

Thanks for visiting me today. For more wonderful ideas, click on over to The Organizing Junkie for lots more Menu Plan Monday participants. There's always loads of great ideas there!

A while ago, someone asked me to post this recipes and I apologize for not having gotten to it sooner, but here it is!!

Baja Beef and Beans is a delicious, slow-cooker meal that I make very often for company it's that good! The Tex-Mex rice just makes it that much more delicious. Plus it is a super-easy to make meal - literally just minutes...well, the entree part anyways. The rice maybe takes 20 minutes total of prep time.

I hope you enjoy this yummy meal!!

Baja Beef and Beans

• 1 1/2 lb. round steak
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 T. yellow mustard
• 1 t. chili powder
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 8 oz. salsa
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 t. beef bouillon
• 1 can of kidney beans

Combine the garlic, mustard, chili powder, salt and pepper. Spread the mixture over the steak, rubbing it in well. Cut the steak into bite-sized pieces. Place in a crockpot and stir in salsa, beef bouillon and onions. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. 30 minutes before serving, stir in drained kidney beans. Serve atop Tex Mex Rice.

Tex Mex Rice

• 1 cup rice
• 3/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 T. olive oil
• 1/4 t. pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/2 t. cumin
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Stir in rice and saute until rice is slightly browned. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add spices. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in red pepper. Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your meal!!

There are some wonderful sounding recipes posted at today's Favorite Ingredient Friday. Be sure to stop over at Overwhelmed by Joy and take a look. You just might find a new favorite!

"Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8

I have much to be thankful for this week, as always. God is so good in his wisdom that it blows me away sometimes.

• I'm thankful that in the midst of all the changes that are looming on the horizon for our family, I'm so totally at peace with it. Each new things that comes my way, that I thought would upset me, has instead just strengthened my faith as I allow myself to fully trust God to lead us where He wants.
• I'm thankful that my parents have accepted our decision to move to the Middle East and are being supportive about it, even though I know they aren't happy about it.
• I'm thankful for my two wonderful children. They bring me to my knees and make me want to pull my hair out sometimes, but they are great kids who love the Lord and I am so thankful to God for letting me be the one who gets to be their mom.
• I'm thankful for my husband who I know that I can always trust. I know that he will always do what is best for us and that he will always provide.
• I'm thankful that today the weather is cooler. It's still been in the low to mid-90's. It's October already!! The high today is supposed to just reach the low 80's - a veritable South Florida chill is in the air!!
• I'm thankful for all my wonderful blogger friends who visit and who leave such encouraging comments. You have become a real source of encouragement and blessing to me!

For more wonderful blessings, visit Crystal, who is generously hosting Thankful Thursday for us through mid-November!