Which Voice are You Listening To?

Sometimes I struggle with keeping my eyes on the Lord and my ears on His voice, and I find myself unintentionally listening to the voice of the enemy.  I love my job, I really do.  But sometimes the thoughts that go through my head could make one wonder!  I'll be having a perfectly fine morning, when suddenly the thoughts going through my head will sound something like this:

"Nobody cares how hard I work around here...I'm everyone's servant...everyone else in this house has their meals cooked for them and handed to them...I always eat last if I even eat at all!...I wish someone would cook me breakfast for a change"....and on and on and on...

Sometimes I won't even realize that I'm thinking these things.  I'll listen to one voice, let satan get his grimy hooks into me, and then BOOM my thoughts are on a roll, my attitudes stink, and I'm far, far away from where the Lord wants my heart to be!  Does this ever happen to you?  I'm sure I can't be the only one!

The fact of the matter is that we are all called to be servants, but even more greatly so in the calling of wife and mother!  I am called to a life of sacrifice.  To be honest, I love this calling, AS LONG AS I constantly listen to the voice of the Lord.  As long as I listen to His voice, my heart stays where it should: meek, humble, willing to lay my life down for others, as Jesus did.  Contrary to what the world says, we have no RIGHTS.  Jesus gave up all of His rights, and we are called to walk as Jesus walked.

Be very careful.  Don't listen to the voice of the enemy that is always there, trying to taunt you and pull you into an attitude of self-pity.  Listen to the voice of Jesus and walk in His steps.  When I do this, my thoughts stay more along these lines:

"I love my life.  I am so blessed to be able to serve breakfast to my husband and children.  I'm so grateful and I love serving them.  Thank you Jesus for this privilege that you gave me!"

Every thought we have is a choice.  You can choose good or you can choose evil.  You can choose fear or you can choose peace.  You can choose anger or you can choose joy.  You can listen to Jesus or you can listen to satan.

Who will you listen to today?

Menu Plan Sunday

Happy Sunday, Ladies!  I haven't been blogging much lately due to the fact that I have been completely overwhelmed with things to get done.  Lots of garden work, trying to wrap up this year's homeschooling, planning out next year's homeschooling, projects projects projects around the house, Abby's birthday party next weekend, Andrew's two weeks after that, getting my high schooler's homeschool stuff organized....plus all the regular work topped off by a teething toddler!  Phew!  I was starting to feel like I was going to fall apart, and prayed about what may be causing this.  The Lord's answer was that I'm being "Martha Martha".  I tried arguing back to the Lord, explaining that all of these things that I'm doing MUST be done and that I need to do my job well, for HIM.  He reminded me that yes, I have much to get done, but I'm putting my focus on that ahead of "the better thing" that Mary chose:  my relationship with Him and my relationships with my husband and children...and just being...THESE things are priority over all the other things that must be done.  And so today I am kicking back, and leisurely working on homeschool planning and organizing, and leaving bigger projects for tomorrow.  I'm feeling refreshed already!

One more thing that the Lord showed me...I was being bogged down by STUFF.  I had a well-meaning relative give me a TON of stuff recently that I really don't need (or want).  I have it piled all over waiting to be organized.  It hit me today....throw it out!  I don't need it--it's just bogging me down.  That decision lifted a huge weight off my shoulders!  I do not do well with a lot of stuff.  It creates mess, and it's just unnecessary.  I prefer simplicity, thank you very much!

Okay, on to this week's menu!

Saturday--Burritos
Sunday--Roast Beef, mashed potatoes, corn
Monday---Chicken parmesan, baked potatoes, green beans
Tuesday--Tacos, Spanish rice
Wednesday--French dip, coleslaw
Thursday--BBQ Meatballs, roasted potatoes with garlic and parmesan, mixed veggies
Friday--Black Beans and rice, cornbread

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Giveaway at Hearts Desire

Menu Plan Sunday

Happy Sunday to my wonderful readers!  You are blessed to be able to serve your families meals...did you know that?  It is a blessing and a joy.  Here is what I will be serving my family for dinner this week:

Saturday--Pizza
Sunday--Whole roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans
Monday--Vegetable beef soup, cornbread
Tuesday--Fried sole, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli
Wednesday--Hearty chicken stew, biscuits
Thursday--Biscuit-topped beef pot pie, salad
Friday--Spaghetti, salad, bread

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all." Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."  Proverbs 31:28-30

Finally--an apron!

I know this may seem so silly, but I have wanted an apron for SO long!  Finally I got one for my birthday this year.  The funny thing is, the purpose of the apron is to protect my clothes, but I'm finding myself not wanting to put it on because I don't want to get it dirty!  So silly!!  But it is pretty and feminine, and I really love it.

I also keep forgetting to post pictures of my precious little Adam's 1st birthday.  I can hardly believe that it's been a year!  He is growing way, way too fast.  I feel like he went from baby to little boy overnight.  I'm really hoping the Lord chooses to bless us with another little one sometime!  Here are some pictures of him:

Isn't he adorable?

In other news, Annamarie got her top braces off today! 

She went from this:

To this:

To this:

My how she is growing!

Blessings to you and your family!