Friday Forum: Odor Removal

Every home has a unique smell ...

some good, some bad, some just different.

Our rental home had some unique and some bad smells when we moved in.

I think many of them have been eradicated,

but we have also had the blessing of basically having open windows since we moved in.

We have cleaned, we have painted, we have cleaned the garbage disposal,

but I fear that when we have to close up we will notice the smell again.

Do you have any tried and true methods of odor removal in "new to you" homes?

Friday Forum: I Just Think Differently?

A move out of state requires an extensive church search usually.

Our situation was no different.

We have not tried the 3 closest places of worship.

We can see the Mormon building from our window,

across the street from them is the Seventh Day Adventist building,

and just 2-3 properties down is the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall.

But we have tried 5 churches in the area and are deciding on 2 of them.

When we began the search,

I told hubby that I would be wearing the same outfit every Sunday while we attended different churches.

Of course, he wondered, "Why?"

Do you know why?

I figured if I wore the same outfit each week,

then when we revisited a church, I would not have to remember what I had worn😄

Is it just me?

Is it a difference between men and women?

Would you do the same?

Friday Forum: Care Packages

Yesterday, I mentioned college care packages.

I have plenty of friends/family in or shortly out of college,

plenty of family looking forward to college,

and many readers who have "been there, done that."

What would you love to see in a care package?

Thrifty ideas?

Theme boxes?

All ideas accepted.

Friday Forum: Entertaining Children

A few weeks ago,

we had the privilege to entertain a family with 4 littles.

While we are comfortable around children,

and our home is "relatively" child-proof,

there are things we wonder.

Do you have a go-to meal for families with children?

If you do not entertain, what meals would your children enjoy?

What makes a visit to someone else's home more comfortable with your children?

Reader Forum: Focus in Prayer

Prayer is definitely a discipline to be learned and practiced.

You saw that one of my goals was to be more deliberate and focused each day.

I am so easily distracted (I think most people are)

I think that my method may be a prayer journal,

BUT ...

then I thought I would ask for help.

While what works for you may not work for me,

it may spark something that leads to a good answer ...

or since most of my readers are family and think like me,

it may be the perfect answer.

So here is the forum question:

How do you "attack" a lengthy prayer list?

How do you systematically pray for all of the needs on your heart and in your life?

Do you pray for certain things on certain days?

Do you pray through the same list daily?

There it is ...

HELP!

Bizarre Question of the Day

To Lighten a Heavier Week

and in honor of one of my brothers

(who shall remain nameless, though we all know who)

Didn't see that one coming, did you?


My answer is ... thanksgiving stuffing - just don't think it would work for me.
Hubby says ... General Tsos Chicken (or any awesome Asian food for that matter)

Friday Forum: Things That Bring Joy

With Spring comes the joy of Spring cleaning.

Most of my "spring cleaning" was completed with all the fresh paint and other renovation items.

I do still need to work on windows :(

and some of the closets.

We have begun trying to look at things and hold on to things that we love and enjoy.

Hubby went through his closet the other day.

3 shirts gone, 2 ties ...

they fit wrong, they were shapeless, they didn't excite wifey.

Easy - Peasy!

I am going to try this in the coming weeks.

While there are some "necessary" items that don't bring joy,

I am sure that I can get rid of more than I have.

Do you try this when you "clean out?"

Has it worked for you?

Do you have a better plan?

Friday Forum: What is "home"?

While renovating the trailer,

hubby said to me, "I really need to get you a real house!"

He knows that I love to decorate, I love to make things homey.

But (I said to him), I am perfectly content with our home.
I do want to make it as nice as I can, but I love it.

Our many apartments were "home."

A trailer can be a "home.".

Home is where I can relax.

Home is were I can try to meet the needs of others through hospitality.

Home is a place where I am accepted and encouraged to be better.

To me,

A home is peaceful ...

A home is bright ...
A home has a pleasant smell ...
A home has pleasant sounds.

How would you describe "home"?

What makes "home" special?

Friday Forum: Snack Basket

Back to the Prophet's Chamber ...

If you were staying at a hotel or any overnight accommodations,

what would you like to see in a snack basket?

Hubby has suggested bottled water.

I have picked up some "KIND" bars (allergy friendly).

We do have a fridge and freezer on site.
We are fairly "hands-off" while are guests are present,

so all food must be there before they arrive.

Our flooring workers are leaving today,

so I hope to be putting things back together this afternoon.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

Friday Forum: The Tuesday Edition

At the end of this week,

I get to wrap up the church project.

The prophet's chamber rooms have been repainted

along with the hall and kitchen.

New carpet and tile will be finished by Thursday.

I will spend some time Friday reassembling the rooms with some new bedding,

new curtains, and a few new decorations.

I have tried to add some things that make the stay more pleasant

including a luggage rack in each room (so you don't have to search through your bag on the floor).

So here is the question:

What makes a guest room comfortable and welcoming to you?

What have you experienced that made a trip special?

For me, scents are a big thing.
We once stayed in a B&B that had Lavender/Chamomile Plug-ins.
It was such a pleasant smell and has become a go-to scent in my own home.

Dream big ...

It may not be used immediately, but it may keep the wheels of my mind turning.

Friday Forum: Keeping Time

So this is not a serious forum, but just one of interest to the writer.

How do you keep time?

Within the past 6 months, I heard that the watch is becoming obsolete

because of the prevalence of cell phones and digital devices.

I wear a watch.

I am lost without it.

Hubby ...

he carries a phone,

it is his time piece.

How about you?

Friday Forum: Lost Arts

I was the queen of lost arts when I married 11 years ago,

didn't cook - much

didn't sew

hadn't practiced gardening and preserving

Hubby and I were tickled this week by some lost arts.

The lack of domesticity in girls.

The lack of basic maintenance skill in young men.

If the Lord allows us to have children,

I don't want them to be part of the "lost art" club.

I want to give them valuable skills to make them useful and helpful.

Perhaps you can help us with the list ...

What do you see as "Lost Arts"?

Note:

If comments are given, they are given as an "As I see it" view.

I am sure that the "lost arts" vary per region and situation.

Friday Forum: Already Gone

While hubby was going through school, 

the book Already Gone by Ken Ham was becoming popular.

The premise of the book is that children of believers are leaving the church in large numbers.

Mr. Ham suggested that it happened because they are not taught the basis of their faith - 

which to him is Creationism.

This past week, through the Internet,

I came across web pages of children who used to be like family to me.

We went to church together.

I spent time in their home almost daily and for holidays and birthdays.

I helped with their schooling.

I was blown away by where they are now.

What happened?

I also heard of a former Sunday School student following similar wrong paths.

We were also studying in I Samuel about Eli and his sons
and then further on about the evil sons of Samuel.
The Bible says that Eli honored his sons above God.
I have not seen an explanation for the failings of Samuel's sons.

I guess there are theories all around.

I think that many people see the rigors and demands of the ministry as the catalyst 

that sends children in Christian homes away.
Sometimes I believe parents follow Eli's course and honor their children above God.

 I also lean toward the idea that hypocrisy in "busy" ministry homes drives children away.

Mom and dad are one thing at home and another thing in church.

Image outside of the home is everything.

What do you think?

Why are children/young people turning away 

from the faith that they have been taught?

Friday Forum: How Does It All Get Done?

Weekly there is much to get done.

There are appointments.

There is housework.

There may be a job.

There are family responsibilities.

There are ministry opportunities.

How does it all get done?

I am constantly tweaking the ways that help me accomplish all that needs to be done.

Primarily, I am a list person.

I make a list each morning.

If it makes the list,

it typically gets done that day.

How about you?

What keeps you motivated and on task?

Friday Forum: Less or More

I told you earlier this week that I was challenged to do some extra cleaning projects this week.

I did find more than 35 things to discard.

I completed 4 of the 5 tasks.

I did not clean the freezers - mostly because both are PACKED right now.

Some of the jobs were easy.

I was not looking forward to cleaning under all of the furniture...

but ...

I was surprised -  

between paring down  for the move

and being more deliberate in keeping the clutter out,

that job was not so hard.

I did find about 2 1/2 bunnies under my bed

and another 3 behind the fridge,

but they were easily swept up.

I have not always wanted to live simply,

but I am becoming more of a believer that 

"Less is More."

We are trying to find more efficient ways to exercise,

more deliberate ways to be healthy,

and after the easy clean this week - still desiring to keep the "stuff" to a minimum.

Are you in the "less is more" camp?

or

Maybe you have many treasures and 

don't mind the work that comes with them?

Friday Forum: The Saturday Edition: Staycation or Vacation

As I wrote earlier this week,

I love to travel.

I love to get away.

I love to see new things.

I love to learn new things.

I love being out of the kitchen.

To Vacation or to Staycation

Since leaving the Navy,

with many job changes in the intermediary years,

there have not been many opportunities for either.

While I love vacations,

they wreak havoc on discipline and routines.

We lean toward staycations.

The opportunity to sleep in your own bed.

Maintaining the usual study and exercise routine.

The resources to still enjoy a meal out.

Most importantly - undivided time with hubby.

How about you?

Staycation?

or 

Vacation?

Friday Forum: Pride

So here is the thought, or question:

Is all pride bad?

The Bible would seem to suggest it.

But,

what about

pride in a job well done,

pride in your children...

You know ... "I am SO proud of you."

What do you think?

Is it a matter of semantics?

Should we just change the wording?

Is "good" pride just a pleasure in good work?

Friday Forum: To Celebrate or Not to Celebrate

It's Valentine's Day!

I think that it is my favorite holiday.

It celebrates love.

It falls in the week between the anniversary of the day I met my hubby and the anniversary of our first date.

The valentines were sent off to the quickly growing "little" people in my life.

I really do not care about receiving a valentine or a gift.

I simply want to express my love to my darling and to have time with him.

I actually cringe to think of the hiked up prices on flowers,

or the need to find a place for another stuffed animal.

I married a sweetie who is thoughtful and practical.

Hubby bought me two 1 gallon sprayers for my garden.

Can you see me do a happy dance?

No more crawling around with a cleaning spray bottle.

One sprayer for homemade weed spray.

One sprayer for "bad bunny" spray (hot sauce and water)

I took hubby a special valentine lunch at work.

Heart shaped hot pockets ...

 

Tossed salad with heart shaped carrots ...

peanut butter cookies.

Special chicken dinner tonight.

Hubby snuck me a Valentine.

We typically choose them in the card aisle ... exchange them ... and then put them back.

(I also cringe at the cost of greeting cards)

Do you celebrate the day?

or is it a just a Hallmark Holiday that you choose to ignore?

Friday Forum: Life Verse

This is an odd topic for me.

My "life" verse seems to change with the seasons of life.

Does that happen for you as well?

One of my longtime favorites has been ...

Hebrews 4:14-16

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, 

Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our 

infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help in time of need.

Recently, I find myself leaning on these verses ...

Luke 1:37 

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Jeremiah 32:17 

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth 

by thy great power and stretched out arm, 

and there is nothing too hard for thee:

How about you?

Do you have a favorite verse?

Feel free to share.

Your verse may encourage me too,

or another reader for that matter!

99 cent sticker from Walmart on some scrap wood hung with ribbon -
a good reminder in one of the guest rooms

Friday Forum: What's On Your Mind?

When we lived in Washington,

there was a commercial on with the question,

"What's in Your Wallet?"

Every once in awhile, the phrase comes back to my mind.

The commercial was suggesting that the credit card one chose to carry

made a big difference in life.

So I tweak it and say,

"What's On Your Mind?"

Today,

I am thinking about Sunday School class,

putting up bulletin boards,

making a February bulletin,

calling my mom for her birthday,

the meals for the week,

the dress I am sewing,

the rooms that still need to be cleaned ...

I am also dwelling on Proverbs 21:31 

"The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD."

We don't live in fear of the battle.

We also don't sit doing nothing in the battle.

We must be busy ... doing right, serving God,

and trusting God for the results!

So,

What's On Your Mind?