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!

O Where O Where Has the Little Month Gone?

 Ah!  May has disappeared.

May typically blows by in a blur.

It is usually a roller coaster of activities and emotions

and this month was no different.

May is a month that reminds me that the plan God has for me is different than that of most others.

This reminder usually comes with tears as well as a renewed trust that God is in control.

Verses of God's goodness and His trait of only doing good become more and more dear.

May also comes with a birthday.

Hubby celebrated me with two party weekends.

We shopped for flowers for the yard and the planters.

We visited a favorite local eatery and tried a new-to-us gluten-free bakery.

Of course, we enjoyed long walks to celebrate another year of life.

We have enjoyed the local WKU campus for walks

and recently enjoyed a new greenway in Clarksville, TN.

We enjoyed our first "non-family" overnight guests this month making room for 7 extras!

We may not be related by blood, but a bond in Christ can be as strong or stronger than family bonds.

We have also seen God's protection through 2 or 3 large storms complete with a tornado in at least some part in B.G.

So I have been absent online, but am still here.

I am thankful for a God who is my strength.

I am thankful for a God who protects.

I am thankful for a God who has given another year of life.

Food Plan Friday: G-BOMBS

 Friday night:

Chicken Tenders and Waffle Fries

(Perdue gluten free and Ore Ida Waffle Fries)

Saturday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Avocado Toast

Turkey Sandwich

Sunday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Chicken Salad

Breakfast for Dinner

Monday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Leftover Chicken Salad

Grilled Chicken on Green Salad

Tuesday:

Oatmeal

PB and J with Apple

Vegan Power Bowl

Wednesday:

Oatmeal

Grilled Chicken and Side Salad

Breakfast for Dinner

Thursday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Perfect Burger

Green Salad with Chickpeas

Friday:

Smoothies and Muffins

Sardines and Green Drink

It is a pretty simple week,

I tried to do some "shopping" from the pantry, fridge, and freezer.

Of course there was some fresh greens needed,

but other than that, trying to clean out some older stuff.

And the food challenge?

I was recently reading a nutritionist who recommended

G-BOMBS

every day.

What are G-BOMBS?

Well, it is a helpful tip to eat some of the many cancer fighters available in the plant world.

Greens

Beans

Onions

Mushrooms

Berries

Seeds

4 in the list are easy for me,

but the other 2 are harder.

My morning smoothie has beans, berries and seeds.

My lunch is often a salad or includes a green drink.

I don't really like onions and mushrooms -

but, I see their value and am adding onions to my salads more often.

I don't mind a sauteed onions, so I include that a lot.

But, mushrooms?

I occasionally throw these on my salad,

but, I also make a commitment to add chopped mushrooms anytime I brown ground meat.

In this way, I can kind of hide their slimy texture :)

Enjoying a Saturday

I just love this quote and the sentiment behind it.

There are many times that I am tempted to feel bad because I am not so"busy."

There are times when we hear busyness equated with great ministry and service for God.

But there is also a blessing in stillness, in quiet, in a slow pace.

There is something to be said for a quiet day with a loved one.

I shared a pleasant day with hubby today.

Some Saturdays start with early morning men's prayer meetings.

Some Saturdays have a planned wedding or party.

Some Saturdays have a to-do list as long as your arm.

Today was all "FREE."

We started the day with a run and walk at a local park.

Hubby had had a lot of travel and had not completed all his workouts,

so he ran with me today.

My interval today was a 5-minute run, 3-minute walk, 5-minute run, 3-minute walk, 5-minute run.

We finished and he enjoyed the "fitness court" while I walked some more.

Then we came home to wash the car.

Yes, even that is enjoyable with some company.

I also spent some time adding some organic matter (old plants) and potting soil to my early birthday gift.

Do you see the two new pots that will soon contain some "Sunpatiens?"

Next was lunch at Blaze - pizza and a salad.

We had the whole patio to ourselves (possibly because of the strong wind.)

Then onto Belk - a local department store that had 70% off of some great clearance items.

Then we stopped at 2 of the "ritzy" nurseries to look at plants and lawn ornaments.

We cleaned up when we got home,

enjoyed a coffee, tahini, cauliflower smoothie,

and then we enjoyed a leisurely Bible time.

It is allergy season, so we are in for the rest of the night,

but I have enjoyed a quiet day and feel refreshed by the break.

Food Plan Friday

 I have been meaning to get back to sharing a meal plan.

Though you may not like some or most of the plan,

 it may jog a memory of something that you haven't eaten in a while.

It might also encourage you to try something new or to incorporate a new ingredient.

I make my meal plan for Friday night through the next Friday noon because I shop on Friday morning.

Wednesday and Sunday nights are always breakfast because it is quick and easy as well as mild for sitting through church or when heading to bed within the hour.

Friday night is always Homemade Fast Food night (more of that later).

This week's plan:

Friday night: 

General Tsos Chicken (from Aldi) and Rice

Saturday: 

Smoothies and muffins

Blaze Pizza (still using a Christmas gift card)

Brussel Sprout Salad

Sunday:

Smoothies and muffins

Leftover Brussel Sprout Salad 

Eggs, toast, and turkey sausage 

Monday:

Smoothies and muffins

Veggie burgers with sauteed mushrooms and onions 

Salmon Bites, Brussel Sprouts, Rice 

Tuesday:

Smoothies and muffins

Salad

Quinoa Pasta Salad (maybe some chicken on the side)

Wednesday:

Smoothies and muffins

Leftover Quinoa Pasta Salad

Breakfast for dinner

Thursday:

Smoothies and muffins

Salad

Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls and Side Salad

Friday:

Smoothies

Leftover (or sardines, crackers, and side salad)

One of our favorite routines is "fast food night."
In Oregon, it was often gluten-free breaded fish and fries (Long John Silvers).

We also do Chick-fil-A night with chicken tenders and waffle fries or chicken tender salad.

Sometimes we do an enchilda or burrito (Chipotle or Taco Bell).

Sometimes it is pizza night.

Last week, we had a delicious Big Mac Salad. (McDonalds).

Sometimes we have milkshake and fries (Wendy's frosty and fries)

And tonight was  General Tsos (PF Changs or Pei Wei).

Are there any great fast foods that we are missing?

By making the meal at home, we save a little money,

we can control some of the ingredients,

and portion control is much easier.

In Its Place

 AH!  The shelf is done.

Hubby was gone all day Thursday and Friday,

so I put my finishing skills to use.

This time, I tried a paint wash.

I used equal parts elephant gray chalk paint and water.

I brushed it on, let it soak a minute, then wiped it off.

Almost goof-proof, because you just wipe off any mistakes!

The other benefit is that you can still see the wood grain.

After "staining," I wiped it down with a dark paste wax.

Today, hubby added some metal hardware and put it in place.

It is not "styled" yet - but I will be experimenting for a bit to come up with something useable and decorative.

I also look forward to having a space for my nativity come Christmas!

Now it is off to finish prepping for the bus ministry class tomorrow.

The usual teacher is away, so I have a little more to plan.

Habit Stacking

 I have read or listened to quite a few books on Habits.

A disciplined life that accomplishes what needs to be done relies on habits.

Many of these books include the idea of habit stacking.

Link habits together to make new habits.

One habit that I work on is water drinking.

Common thought says that you drink half of your weight in ounces of water.

That's a lot of water for some of us!

I found that I could get through the morning with hardly a sip and then had to drink a lot before bed - 

not a great idea!

So, I needed a way to get started first thing in the morning.

In comes habit stacking.

My personal Bible study is typically between 6-7 in the morning.

That is a habit that is regular and reliable.

Perfect - lets get 24 oz down before breakfast.

So I habit stack.

Typically I read at least 4 chapters in the Bible.

After every chapter, I take 10-12 sips.

By the time I close in prayer, my first cup (24 oz)  is done.

If all else fails, I have started well.

Water is crucial in your diet - 

yes, other fluids can hydrate, but none are as great as water.

It keeps the digestive tract moving,

it cleans the kidneys,

it keeps the brain clear,

it keeps your joints moving clearly,

it helps control blood pressure,

it helps carry nutrition and oxygen in the body,

it helps in body temperature regulation.

Random

 

It's always nice to have the option of an Air BNB for guests right in your culdesac.

Of course, it is subject to availability!

Just watch out for those fees :)

Designed for A Particular Spot

 Last Saturday, hubby built me a shelf for the Living Room.

It will house some general everyday supplies,

some throw blankets,

a plant (or 2 or 3 or ...),

and our printer which has been homeless since we moved in!

Currently, it sits in the garage waiting for a certain woman to paint or stain or stain and paint.

I think I want to experiment a little on some extra wood for a new type of finish, but we will see.

I look forward to seeing it in its new home and having the fun of decorating it.

I enjoy making my home unique and making our home meet our needs.

Green!

No, not money!

No, not Shamrocks!

(Though we did celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a Shamrock Shake and some Corned Beef and Cabbage)

Green as in plant life.

I can tell that I am eager for Spring when it seems to come SOOOOO slowly!

Today is the first day of Spring, but it hardly feels that way outside.

But from the inside, things are greening up and the sun makes it looks like it should be warm.

I am enjoying the view from the front room. 

I planted some purple hyacinths and yellow tulips around the cherry tree.

I will look forward to their return each year.

The creeping phlox is blooming and spreading in the front rock garden

and a few winter pansies that don't really match are enjoying the last of the cool weather.

I look forward to filling in the tree ring with SunPatiens this year.

We watched 2 or 3 homes around the neighbor that planted these beauties last year 

and they bloomed from May to October.

This spot is particularly hard because of the full sun it gets in the afternoon,

but these beauties may be up to the challenge.

After 2 weeks ...

grass is greening and slowly filling in.

And I even mowed last week!