Every Job is Different

 This past month, I enjoyed a refreshing perspective and reminder.

It is easy as a homemaker to lose focus.

The article I read this was based on a question posed to the writer:

Should a wife work outside of the home?

I have struggled with this when people ask what I do.

Sometimes I feel judged as lazy or undisciplined.

I have wondered if I should do more to "help" the family?

The author's answer was based on the title "helpmeet."

Should or can a "helpmeet" work outside of the home?

Her answer was simple ... and for me, encouraging!

Am I the best help for my husband if I am working out of the home?

Some wives can be the best helpmeet and have an external job.

Every time I consider an extra job, I find myself saying, 

"If I do this, hubby might have to get his own lunch."

"If I do this, hubby might have to help with ___."

Not every wife needs to research recipes for certain health needs.

Not every wife needs to exercise each day.

Not every wife needs to keep their home quite so quiet and tidy.

Every husband is different.

Therefore every couple has to answer the question for themselves.

My hubby is very independent and capable.

He is super tidy.

He can clean better than I can.

He is able to cook and follow recipes.

He could easily do many of the jobs I do,

but I can help him by doing them so that he has time to study,

to minister to others,

and even to spend more time with me.

I can do things that help him with his health and wellness goals.

So I was encouraged.

Every job is different.

Every home is different.

Every helpmeet has different work to do.

It is OK if I work at home!

Faithful

 2 Kings 22:7

Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully.

A few weeks back, I was reading this passage.

This verse really stuck out to me.

No explanation was needed, no books were shown, no audit was made,

because the people receiving the money were faithful.

My testimony really means something.

Do I long to be trusted?

How am I exhibiting that I should be trusted?

Do I want to get a promotion / more responsibility / different responsibility?

How am I using the job and position I have now?

Is my testimony one of just foolishness?

Am I seen and known as a hard worker?

Do I stick to a task and a job until it is finished 

or just seek the next "shiny" thing when things get hard.

What does your testimony say of you today?

What would you hear if someone was speaking of your character?

I would like to hear ...

"...because she dealt faithfully."

Prayer Works!

 I mentioned that last week our church had VBS.

I was excited and nervous.

I hadn't taught in over a year.

Usually, when I have taught, I know my students.

I know how many students I will have.

I know what backgrounds they come from.

The church had "blitzed" flyers and sent out mailers.

The bus children were excited to bring guests.

What would happen in class?

How many students would there be?

The story time was the last item of the night.

They would have a rally.

They would make a craft.

They would eat a snack.

They would have game time.

Then they would come to Bible time.

Would they be rowdy?

Would they just be ready to fall asleep?

Would they be on a sugar high?

People were praying.

They were praying for each child,

They were praying for me.

They were praying for an atmosphere conducive to learning.

And God was pleased to answer in the affirmative.

I do not believe I have ever taught a class with so little need for correction.

I do not believe I have ever taught a class where the vast majority "got it."

And it was not the teacher,

it was answered prayer.

Perhaps you used to be a visible "doer" in a ministry, 

but are now limited in your ability to be out front.

Please know that a behind the scene ministry of prayer is greater than the outward ministry.

Prayer works!

Will There Be an Asterisk?

 I Kings 11:1

"But king Solomon loved many strange women, ..."

I read this verse in my devotions last week.

I wondered ... "What would someone add to the description of my life?"

"What draws me away from the Lord?"

"But Sandra was distracted by her home."

"But Sandra shortened her Bible time regularly."

"But Sandra was lifted up in pride."

"But Sandra ..."

Solomon started well.

Remember his request for wisdom instead of wealth and fame?

Unfortunately, it ended with a "But king Solomon ..."

Unfortunately, we often have to add asterisks to Christian ministries or ministers these days.

I went to this college (*before this date or event).

This music source is good (*if you get the music before this date).

I went to this church (*before it loosened its standards).

I don't want a "But Sandra ..."

I don't want an asterisk.

I want to stay the course.

I want to be faithful.

Keeper at Home

 Hubby is teaching through Titus in Sunday School.

Last Sunday, the lesson was to the women - 

the traits that an older woman should teach

and that a younger woman should seek to follow.

"Keeper at Home" is sometimes controversial.

Hubby taught it as a mind toward home care and domesticity in both young and old alike.

A woman working outside of the home can still have a heart toward her home.

It may be possible to do both.

Even a young woman without her own home can exhibit a love for home, for beauty, 

for the family she is in and the one she may be a part of one day.

I have a hard time with the balance and therefore I stay at home.

But even in staying at home,

a woman can fail to be a keeper at home.

A stay-at-home wife can lose focus,

can be distracted by things that do not benefit her home,

can be busy with things that are not her primary role.

So I pass that on to you, dear reader:

Are you living with a focus on your home?

Are you serving your home well?

Are you fulfilling what God would have you do?

Thanksgiving, Stewardship, and the Goodwill Dilemma

II Samuel 24:24  

And the king said unto Araunah, 

"Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: 

neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. 

So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not look around and thank God for my home.

This is not really a new concept - I have always seen our homes as a gift.

God has always provided the right place at the right time in miraculous ways.

I have always been thankful for a place to practice homemaking ...

places to practice new skills...

places to adapt and change ...

from the one-bedroom apartment of a newlywed,

to a two-bedroom apartment on the Pacific Coast,

to a single-wide trailer for college families,

to another single-wide trailer right next door,

to a two-bedroom duplex in a town near enough to care for family,

to my own home ...

But ...

I have noticed as I clean and tidy and organize

that the "new" home inspires a greater desire to do a good job.

Again, it wasn't that I never cleaned my home or put my all into it,

but it seems that because this home cost more than a "pretty penny,"

I value it more.

We tend to value that which has a greater cost to us.

Have you noticed this as prices rise?

Do you think before you just hop in the car?

Do you contemplate before sticking the "non-essential" in the grocery cart?

Is it worth it?

David recognized this when it came time to offer sacrifices.

He wanted his sacrifice to have weight and value.

As I cleaned one morning,

I was ashamed that I don't see all of God's gifts as items of great value.

All His gifts deserve proper stewardship and care.

Thus the Goodwill Dilemma ...

... and a challenge to me and a word to the wise.

I love Goodwill when I have the time to search for great finds.

(Of course, some stores are nicer than others.)

It is fun to find the styles of yesterday on sale today.

It is fun to find "deals" on skirts, dresses, shirts, home decor, and housewares.

And yet, I have also observed the lack of care and stewardship that sometimes comes with the bargain purchase.

I have noticed families that purchase "bargains" so that there is no hardship when the children make a mess or when the children are rough with the purchase.

While I agree with that idea in theory, and there are definitely seasons where this makes sense, and it does help to provide training times for children with less stress,

in practice, the "bargain" also often causes the parent to fail to teach the value of clothing, toys, or furniture.

Because it costs next to nothing, the children can throw it, rip it, jump on it, or leave it in the yard.

And why is this a problem?

Because the children (or I for that matter) may not learn good principles of stewardship.

We do not learn how to care for what God has provided.

We may not see the difference between the "bargain" item and the item at another person's house that might have cost quite a bit more.

Good stewardship of the funds God provides may involve shopping at Goodwill or yard sales,

but it also involves taking care of the bargains that God sends our way through these means.

Where is the Challenge?

 I am not a competitive person.

I avoid stress if possible.

I am happy to cheer for other people.

But there have to be some challenges in life.

Hubby and I are currently working on memorizing Psalm 119.

What?

We have been challenged to memorize as far as we can through the summer with our church.

I may only get through verse 8.

Maybe I will make it through 16.

I want to learn 8 verses each month which would get me through verse 24,

but whatever I learn, the challenge has been helpful.

It has lit a fire.

It has given hubby and I another something to do together.

It has focused our minds on good things.

We have also set another challenge.

We are about to do something we thought we would never do.

We are about to sign a mortgage.

Debt is not something we see as good.

And so we take another challenge.

Can we pay off the house in 5 years or less?

That is the challenge.

And as inflation continues, the challenge gets harder.

I have read many a blog where that same challenge led to boxed macaroni and cheese weekly.

How about packages of Bar S hotdogs marked down to 88 cents a pack?

Unfortunately, my body could not handle that,

but it can handle more simplicity.

As I write, there is a big pot of beans on the stove.

As a matter of fact, the rice just finished as well.

We might get more of our favorite "breakfast for dinner" nights.

In fact, tonight we are enjoying chia pancakes - a brand new favorite.

Have you challenged yourself to something?

Is there something that helps you better yourself?

Is there something that sharpens you?

Don't be afraid of the challenge!

Let it strengthen you!

Success

 Proverbs 31:27

She looketh well to the ways of her household, 

and eateth not the bread of idleness.

It is a goal to live out this verse in my home.

I desire to serve my household well.

Today felt like a success in meeting this goal.

Unfortunately, it is not always the case.

The past two months have been full of distractions - 

some good, and some that should have been ignored.

Distractions are not always great in accomplishing goals.

With Thanksgiving and Christmas services behind us,

with gifts and cards sent out,

with a few weeks when fatigue just hit strong in the rearview mirror,

I feel like I can focus again.

Of course, there will still be distractions - 

but I rejoice in the victorious days.

Today, another room got steam-cleaned carpets.

Today, the garage was tidied after digging out Christmas decorations and decorating both at home and church.

Today, shipping boxes got broken down and put in the recycle bin.

Today, I closet got cleaned and straightened.

Today, the workout was finished in time to clean up before hubby arrived home.

It is easy to get discouraged.

You may not always reach your goals,

but rejoice in the little things -

rejoice in the successes.

I know I am today.

We have another "snow day" from church tonight.

So thankful for the archives of other churches that will provide spiritual food tonight.

Just a Little Tip

 I would never tout myself as a great cook - 

but I do have a few recipes that get shared a lot.

One is Italian Pork:

It is simply a pork roast sprinkled with an Italian dressing seasoning mix and then slow cooked until it falls apart.

The other is simple guacamole:

One avocado, sprinkle of garlic salt, a splash of lime juice.

Long time readers will recall my post about wedding reception guacamole

and the task of getting 50 good avocados at one time.

Just about the time we left NC, a church member gave me this tip,

and I have used it many times.

It is more of a blessing as prices continue to rise on EVERYTHING!

No one wants to throw out an 80 cent avocado!

To prolong the life of an avocado ...

Ripen avocado on the counter, but watch carefully.

When it is ready to use (and you are not ready to use it)

wrap in tin foil and place in refrigerator.

I have gotten another week out of avocados by practicing this method.

Of course, you still have to be aware of what is happening on your counter so that you do not miss that window of opportunity.

I keep about 3 squares of tin foil for this purpose and reuse them as necessary.

Encourage

 Proverbs 31:26

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; 

and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

I am thinking again about the month of November.

- a month focused on giving thanks - 

- a month of recognizing blessings around us - 

Shouldn't this focus overflow into our relationships?

Shouldn't we verbalize our thankfulness to both God and others?

The Proverbs 31 woman knows how to speak.

She uses Godly wisdom to speak kindness and encouragement to others.

It is so easy to tear others down.

It is easy to let pride stop me from building up others.

It is easy to want to wait until I can merely reciprocate after receiving praise from others.

It is easy to just hold my tongue.

But why not be the first?

Use your mouth to encourage someone.

It is in acknowledging the good in others that we will change our attitudes.

It is in acknowledging the good in others that we will fill up the tank of others.

It is in acknowledging the good in others that you may just recognize the difficulties that they are facing today.

And while you are at it, speak kindly to yourself.

Remember that you are God's creation!

Help and Accountability

 Today was a basic home workday.

There was no running around.

There were no unusual visits.

I was rested after recovering from my bad decision-making on Monday evening.

My week typically begins with a general home cleaning on Monday.

This would be linens, bathrooms, vacuuming, and dusting throughout.

Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, I work in 1 of 5 specific ZONES.

This week was zone 3 which is the bathrooms and guest room.

Cleaning in specific rooms involves wiping down walls and baseboards

and moving furniture to vacuum behind things.

It involves tidying drawers and closets and cabinets and bookshelves if applicable.

It might involve washing curtains (more like once a quarter) or pillows or changing air filters.

This plan comes from a phone app that I found a couple of years ago.

The app allows me to check off what I have done and to be reminded of things I have skipped.

There is no wondering when I last washed the shower curtain or changed the fish's water.

This plan was motivated by the desire to stay on top of things.

Everything gets addressed at least once every 5 weeks!

There is a hope that on moving day, 

any helpers (or even hubby) won't see something awful when the couch or bed is moved.

There is a hope that any spider webs in the corners will only be minor if ever discovered.

I am reminded on a schedule of things that need to be addressed.

This is a simple example of a system of help and accountability.

Think of how many systems God has put in place to also address issues in our life.

He has given us His Word.

His Word should be read daily to remind us of His desires and our need for Him.

He has given us His church.

A balanced church should challenge believers and help to put a finger on sin in our lives.

He has given us fellow believers.

We should be challenged by the actions and rebukes of believers around us.

Are you availing yourself of the help and accountability available to you today?

Clean It Up

Back to Woman's Work Wednesday ... 

Part of our responsibilities of my MIL's estate
was to prepare her "home" to be donated.
We rented a steam cleaner to clean the carpets
and while we had the cleaner, I asked hubby to spot clean a few stains in our home.
The spots he cleaned showed us just how dirty the carpets were.
The carpet throughout the whole house really needed doing.
We are not sure that the cleaners before we moved in put a lot of effort into the process.

Some simple math led me to believe that I could buy a small machine
to clean my carpets and then I could sell it for half the price when we move
and make out better than renting one again.
I could take my time and I could do it more than once.

So last week I began the process.
I finished 2 rooms (the living room and bonus room).
Monday, I finished the dining room.
Yesterday, I completed the guest room.
Now I just have the Master Bedroom for next week.
I will probably repeat the process upon completion,
because I was actually still not getting clean rinse water after completing the first round.

I love the feeling of "knowing" that my house is really clean.
It is more than just the superficial.
It is a "breath easier" feeling.

What are you working on specifically this week?

Do you have a goal project?

I have also been working on running again.
It is actually going fairly well. 
I am no longer timing myself per se.
I am not trying to do a 10-minute mile.
I am interval running 2-3 times a week.
I have read that interval exercise is actually better than steady running.
It keeps the heart working and recovering over and over again.
I run for 2 minutes, I walk for 2 minutes, and I repeat it 6-8 times.
You know what?
it is getting more enjoyable (most days).
And some days, I actually move fast enough that hubby can get some cardio value from it.
All part of that effort to take care of my health.
And this time of year, who can't enjoy the fall leaves, the cooler temperatures, and the fall decorations?

Choose Your Hard

 On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and some Saturdays,
I "enjoy" an interval run.
It is far from enjoyment.
It is an exercise in discipline.

I warm up for 5 minutes, run for 3, walk for 2, run for 3, walk for 2, ...
I continue for 35 minutes or 6 cycles.

As I ran last week on a particularly drippy day,
I thought of how much motivation it took to get myself outside.
I do not enjoy this activity ...
... at least until I reach the end,
... until I sleep so well at night,
... until I see the resting heart rate and blood pressure lowering,
... until I feel the accomplishment of beating my 20-year-old self.

There are a lot of hard choices.

I saw a quote that said something like ...

Work is hard, being broke is hard,
Choose your hard.
Exercise is hard, being unfit is hard,
Choose your hard.
Communicating is hard, not communicating is hard,
Choose your hard.
Marriage is hard, divorce is hard,
Choose your hard.

You get the idea.
I run because I want to stay mobile and healthy.
I want to enjoy the life I have.
I want to avoid the doctor when I can.
I value mobility more than I despise the intervals.

So you may face an issue that requires discipline.
It may be a hard choice.
But the alternative may not be easy either.
Make the effort to be disciplined today.

Choose to spend time with the Lord.
Choose to memorize His Word.
Choose to eat right.
Choose to take care of your body.
Choose to speak with grace.
Choose not to react in anger.

Choose the best hard.

Not Later, How About Now?

Two weeks ago, I wrote about some jobs that I have been putting off,

those undesirable jobs that are not weekly, but do need done more than yearly
or more than just when packing to move.😀
Did you check any of the undesirable jobs off of your to-do list?

Funny thing is ... after I mentioned some of those jobs,
I was actually forced to address some of those dreaded jobs.

The day I wrote that blog, hubby came home sick.
So when he recovered, ALL the bedding got washed-
duvet cover, pillows ...
and since he was also in the living room ...
throw pillows and covers and blankets in there as well.

I really liked the not so gentle prod to get moving
and downloaded a phone app that gives me a good list of those infrequent jobs divided by week.
The first week was fairly easy - entryway, dining room, and hallway.
It did include the cobwebs outside the door that needed to be removed.

Last week, the focus was on the kitchen,
so the cupboards got washed,
the dreaded refrigerator cleaned,
and the stove cleaned.

Because of the holiday on Monday,
I haven't started this week's focus rooms,
but it will be the guest room and the 3 bathrooms.
Since I just scoured the bathroom floors,
this shouldn't be too bad.

And once again, I am forced to address some other undesirable jobs.
This actually does have to be put off for at least a day or two.
The Eastern Oregon fires are creating a great mess in our little valley.
The air is thick with ash and there is a silvery dust EVERYWHERE outside.
So the newly formed cobwebs are emphasized and the whole house exterior will need to be washed down.
The sidewalk will need to be washed.
So while it won't be addressed until the air clears,
there is no choice but to get out there and get it done.
Oh, and I guess the car will need a good cleaning as well.

I'm Sorry --- I Can't Be Proud of You

How many times do we hear it?

I'm so proud of you!

I'm proud of what I have accomplished!

I'm proud to be an American!

I'm proud of the stands I have taken!

I'm proud of my work!

I'm proud of my children!

But the Bible has nothing good to say about pride.

In fact, God resists the proud.

Perhaps He even gives thorns to help us resist pride.

II Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, 

there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, 

the messenger of Satan to buffet me, 

lest I should be exalted above measure.

Paul easily could have been lifted up in pride.

Indeed, he was a great apostle, writer, teacher of doctrine.

He even listed his titles and accomplishments and were they not impressive?

He felt that His thorn kept Him from being lifted up.

Hubby and I were reading a book the other night about the Spurgeons.

Mr. Spurgeon - "the prince of preachers" - and yet the author relayed an incident in his early preaching ministry that stuck with him the rest of his life and perhaps held his ministry back.

It made us think of Paul's verse about his thorn.

I can think of  MANY areas that I struggle with in the area of pride.

I can also think of "thorns" that help me to keep those areas of pride in check (sometimes😖)

For years, I have excused it as semantics.

I said "proud" but I meant thankful, I meant pleased, I meant ...

but I don't anymore.

All things are supposed to bring glory to God, not me.

Perhaps we should use Bible phrases ...

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

 "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake."

"But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord."

Think about it!

Would it be so bad to erase it from our vocabulary?

Do we really want to be described as proud?

Where have you been? Part VIII

Something for the little ones

and a way to show love.

Early in the quarantine,

one of hubby's coworkers had a baby - 2 months premature.

We decided to reach out with a gift and the gospel.

A blanket, some wipes, some baby lotion

and a tract and letter with the gospel.
I had many of the blocks completed,
but hurried to finish the rest and put the border on.

And then I got to thinking that I should always have a little blanket on hand to give.

If there is one thing I have learned in life its this:

if you love on someone's child(ren), you automatically show love to the parent.

And so, I crochet to and from church.
I can get one block done per trip (which makes 3 a week)!

I crochet on quiet evenings at home.

I am well on my way to having another completed.

(they are anywhere from 5 blocks x 5 blocks to 7 blocks x 7 blocks - depending on the pattern)

I think that this one is set to be 7x5.

Resolution 3: Faithfulness

I know, I just mentioned faithfulness yesterday.

Remember the lemons.🍋

When you want to give up because it seems like the roadblocks are many, keep going.

This resolution actually comes from the life of Anna in the book of Luke.

Anna's service may have seemed insignificant (at least before it was documented in the Bible).

Her work was humble, it was behind the scenes.

But her faithfulness was noticed by God.

84 years of service in fasting and prayer.

I want to be that faithful in whatever small ministry I may be given.

The Simple Life in 2 Requests

As the title and subtitle of this blog suggest,

my desire is to live a simple life.

I want to keep a quiet life.

I want to foster peace in my home.

I want to be able to hear God speaking.

I want to know His leading.

I want, as much as possible, to make wise decisions to promote health and wellness.

It is easy for the noise of this world to crowd into the home.

The politics of today get even Christians worked up, troubled, and worried.

A fast-paced life crowds out meaningful time to read, study, and memorize God's Word.

In America, our lives are often so "easy" that we lack true dependence on God.

When bowing before an Almighty God,

the requests could be numerous and great.

Nothing is too hard for God.

But the writer of Proverbs had just two requests.

Proverbs 30:7-8

Two things have I required of thee;

deny me them not before I die.

Remove far from me vanity and lies:

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with food convenient for me.

If I were to boil them down,

the simple life would

1.  avoid pride and lying

2. be content with what God provides

How many times do I complicate life with my pride or with a tangled web of lies?

I may fail to end a dispute because of selfish pride.

I may not be content with or acknowledge a ministry God has given because I feel I deserve something "greater."

I may fail to submit to authority because it goes against my pride.

I may lie which leads to another lie or the confusion of trying to remember what lies I had told.

I may also complicate my life in search of things.

God provides for my needs

and often for my wants.

If I would just be content in His provision,

I would save a lot of time, effort, and money

thereby keeping my life simpler.

Building Strength: Resolution 1

It is typical this time of year to hear of resolutions.

"I will work out more."

"I will lose weight."

The local gyms are packed with people starting the year by making a change.

There are many new runners along the side of the road.

The local stores are advertising weights, yoga mats, and protein shakes.

I will admit,

we did buy a new pair of dumbbells to add to our collection😃

I do advocate good health.

I like to encourage exercise.

I try to be a balanced example in my eating.

But more important than physical muscles and strength

is building a reliance on God.

Psalm 105:4

Seek the LORD and his strength.

I need to seek Him and His strength

in service, 

in everyday tasks,

in hard places,

for wisdom and direction,

for victory over sin,

in ministry,

in my finances,

in the face of temptation,

in sickness,

in areas to exercise discipline,

for guidance in witnessing.

Later in Psalm 105 ...

Psalm 105:37

...there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Out of all the Jews in the wilderness, ... not one lacked strength.

They had the LORD's enabling and strength.

Why then do I try to work in my own strength when His is so much greater?

Just A Little Tweak

A homemaker, a keeper at home, a home manager ...

I gladly take those titles.

Last week my "job" required making some adjustments to the schedule.

For years, hubby's schedule started at 4:30 every day with a workout.

Off to work between 7 and 7:15.

Dinner on the table at 5:30.

Bed at 9.

I didn't mind.

I work well with a schedule.

Just let me know the schedule and I will work with it.

But often hubby was frustrated because entertaining or late church responsibilities made the 4:30 appointment very difficult and easy to skip.

Seasonal allergies made breathing (a necessity for workouts) in the morning difficult.

The house is always cold at 4:30 in the morning.

Fast forward to Oregon and we try it again but with earlier work hours and less of a commute.

4:30 workout

7:00 leave for work

4:45 dinner on the table

9:00 bedtime

Should be doable ... EXCEPT

the workout room is cold (VERY cold) that early in the morning.

Our devotion time was being SQUEEZED short and felt rushed because the workouts weren't always a perfect 30 minutes.

The early dinner left us very hungry before bed.

So let's work on managing this.

I wanted to be on the couch for devotions at 5:45.

I wanted breakfast at 6:30.

Hubby wanted a more consistent workout schedule.

So just a little (and what should have been obvious) tweak.

The workout is now AFTER work.

(The new job just requires 8 hours with no required amount of time for lunch

and is only 10 minutes from home).

5:00 rise and shine

5:30 start devotions 

6:30 breakfast

7:00-7:15 leave for work

4:15-4:30 home

4:30 workout

5:00 dinner

9:00 bed

We are just loving the schedule.

Hubby is getting a workout every day, but Sunday.

I have more time in the afternoon to get dinner on the table.

We are not pressured to leave church too quickly because of an early wake-up call.

The workouts are a lot more effective when we are AWAKE!

And we can allow the garage to heat up a little with the warmth of the day.