Menu Plan Sunday...er,Monday....

Phew...with Easter AND my birthday yesterday, I got a little behind!  Here is my dinner menu for this week, and I decided to include breakfast also.  I have lots of leftover ham that I'm working into both meals this week!  Lunch is a rotation of different kinds of sandwiches, nachos, macaroni and cheese, etc.

Sunday:
breakfast-- Easter breakfast @ church
dinner--Ham, baked potatoes, praline yams, corn

Monday:
breakfast--scrambled eggs, ham, hash browns, toast
dinner---split pea soup, bread, baked potatoes

Tuesday:
breakfast--cereal, toast, applesauce (have to get out the door for orthodontist appt!)
dinner--Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes/gravy, green beans

Wednesday:
breakfast---breakfast casserole, chocolate coconut muffins
dinner--ham & bean soup, cornbread, salad

Thursday:
breakfast--waffles, ham, hash browns
dinner--chicken a la king, biscuits, salad

Friday:
breakfast---quiche, coffee cake, roasted potatoes
dinner--black beans & rice, corn

Saturday:
breakfast--pancakes, fried eggs, ham
dinner--beef stew, biscuits, salad

Blessings to you!!

Letting Go of "Me"

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20

So many people are searching after "fulfillment".  "I have goals", "I have dreams", "I want to do this and that", "when is this going to happen for me?", "why isn't my life going the way I want it to?"  Wellll....newsflash...we are not on earth for ourselves!  We have died (Gal. 2:20) and we are vessels walking around this earth, filled with the Holy Spirit, here on earth to fulfill God's purposes.  There is no "I" in that.  It is "HE"!

Recently God revealed something to me that hit me over the head like a ton of bricks!    For so many years, I looked at my children as something that God had given me in order to fulfill something in MYSELF.  I kept looking at them, thinking they needed to do this and that, and act such-and-such a way, because that was my plan.  One day, the Lord spoke very clearly to me, telling me that He did not give me children so they could meet some needs of mine.  He gave me children for Him, for me to love and raise for His sake and His glory, to raise them up and train them in His ways.  He has a purpose for them!  They are HIS kids that are being entrusted into my care, and I need to be obedient in my calling.  Wow!  I have not been the same since that revelation, let me tell you.  I look at everything very differently now.  My kids are not about ME....they are about HIM.  Now I get up every day thinking, "what does God want me to teach my kids today...what is in HIS plan for my day?"  This is so freeing!  There is no longer such stress in my days.  I am totally at peace, having surrendered to Jesus, and constantly looking to Him for leading in my days.  I'm not continually searching for that elusive "fulfillment".  Because, true fulfillment lies in dying to self and surrending to Jesus.

Menu Plan Sunday

Here ya go!  You may notice that a couple of meals carried over from last week to this week; that is because things came up and plans changed, so I had to bump those meals over to the next week.

Sunday--Tacos
Monday--Salmon, baked potatoes, corn
Tuesday--(Adam's birthday so I am making his favorite!!) Spaghetti, salad, bread  *carrot cake for Adam's birthday!
Wednesday--Chili, cornbread
Thursday--Oven fried chicken, roasted potatoes, peas
Friday--BBQ Beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, salad
Saturday--leftovers....I must do this because I have much to prepare for Easter.  Coffee cake and quiche for breakfast at church, then a ham dinner.  And it's my birthday!!!  My lovely daughter is making me a cake! :)

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20


May God bless you this holy week!

Opinions on Blog Name, Please!

I am contemplating changing my blog name, but I am not sure, and would love some input!  I had a really, really hard time coming up with a name that would totally represent me in the first place.  My main focus is being a Titus 2 woman, along with homesteading and homeschooling.  When I picked "My Abundant Life", I chose it because who I am encompasses so many different aspects, and all of these aspects combined equal abundant life.  I am now toying with names that include things such as keeper at home, homesteader, homesteading, etc..."Keeper of the Homestead" is what I am considering right now.

I am just not sure if the current name fits the content, you know what I mean?  What do you all think?  Do you think "My Abundant Life" fits this blog, or should I come up with something more fitting?  Do you have any great ideas?  Should I just let it be???

Helllllppppp......

Thanks!!!

Working the Land

Ouch---my back is sore!  Today I was out digging in the garden, turning the soil and digging out weeds.  Some of the soil was quite hard and compacted and really gave me a workout.  I really need to get the soil ready soon so I can actually get my seeds planted.  It's a lot of work, but this verse kept going through my head:

"He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough."  Proverbs 28:19 AND 12:11--apparently God thought it was worth mentioning TWICE.

Because, well....have you SEEN food prices lately?  It's getting harder and harder to stretch my small food budget, and it sounds as though this isn't expected to improve anytime soon.  It's getting to the point where I'm feeding my family less produce because I can't afford to buy more of it, but that isn't good...we NEED to eat a lot of produce.  So I've realized that if we're going to be eating plenty of vegetables in the future, then I've got to get a good garden going.  And if I want us to eat plenty of fruit, then I need to be buying up the cheap fruit this summer and canning.  Along with that, our chickens are laying nicely and we will be getting our milk goats soon.  It's all a lot of work, but I think it is so fun!!

"For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:10-13

Working in the garden always reminds me of Jesus' parable of the sower--such a great parable:

Matthew 13

I thought I would just share that little tidbit of my life today.  God bless!

Menu Plan Sunday

Wow, I haven't done one of these in awhile!  I think I got out of the habit because I had to start reworking my menus in order to cook more frugally, and in the process felt that my menus were too boring to post.  LOL!  I think I will go ahead and pick menu plan Sundays back up though!  Here is my menu for this week:

Sunday--Roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans
Monday--Burritos
Tuesday--Salmon, baked potatoes, corn
Wednesday--Italian chicken vegetable soup, cornbread
Thursday--Crockpot BBQ beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, salad
Friday--Tacos, Spanish rice
Saturday--Cheeseburgers, oven fries, baked beans

The sermon this morning was the last one on the 10 commandments series, so we were on the last commandment: thou shalt not covet.  Yikes.  Of all the commandments, this is probably the hardest one for me!  God has definitely brought me on a journey from constantly coveting, to desiring simplicity and being content with what I have, but I admit if I let my mind wander the way of the flesh, I will go down the road of coveting!  It is only by God's grace that I am able to be content with what He has given me.  Here is one of the passages of scripture that we read today:

1 Timothy 6:6-12:  Now godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can bring nothing out.  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  But you O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 

May the Lord bless your week!

Prophecy on Fast Forward

This is worth reading.  Keep looking up!

Prophecy on Fast Forward

More on Modesty...

It's funny, modesty used to be a topic that I hid from.  I would read everything I could find on being a Godly woman, until the word "modesty" popped up...then I would roll my eyes and skip over it.  God's been working on me.  Now I am really feeling a pull toward switching away from pants and over to dresses and skirts. 

(I feel like I'm sort of "thinking out loud" on this post today, so thanks for letting me share my thoughts.  I know several of my readers have taken this journey and so I feel this is a "safe" place to do this.)

I'm not sure I think that it's "wrong" for women to wear pants.  I don't think the Bible says it is. Does it?  But God is pulling me toward a more modest and feminine way of dressing.  Plus, I did some research today on when women starting wearing pants.  Funny thing...women wore dresses for thousands of years, and it hasn't been that long that they have been wearing pants...and lo and behold, guess who first pushed for this???  Guess??  Gasp...the feminists!  Why am I not surprised???  And because I am totally against everything that feminism represents, it makes me want to stop wearing pants as a statement that I DON'T AGREE WITH THE MODERN THINKING OF FEMINISM.  I want to dress more feminine as a way of representing the traditional woman.  Because that's what I'm all about...traditional conservative Biblical womanhood.

So this is what I am pondering.  I don't know what I'm doing about it yet, other than praying about it.  I haven't mentioned it to my husband.  I don't know what he would think.  Did you ladies who made the switch take the idea to your husband first?

I appreciate your thoughts on this, and your prayers, and thank you for listening to my rambling thoughts!

A Typical Day in the Life of Me

I thought this might be fun, to share with everyone what my days typically look like.  Anyone else who would like to, please jump in and share your days!

My key verses for how I run my household are:

 Proverbs 31:27- "She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness"

Titus 2:5: "to be self‑controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. NIV (I know that's not the best translation, but I like the way it says "busy at home", for the purposes of this post).

Based on Proverbs 31, I believe God calls us to a standard of excellence as homemakers.  I also believe that it is impossible for a woman to efficiently be a helpmeet to her husband in the way that God has called her to, if she works outside the home.  That being said, here is how my day typically goes:

I get up around 6 am, often with the baby still sleeping which is preferable.  I get a cup of coffee and sit down and do my devotions, check emails, read blogs, and sometimes quickly check facebook until 6:30.  After that I hop in the shower and then get started making breakfast.  Now somewhere in here, the baby will wake up...I can't say for sure when!  Whenever he does, I'll stop to nurse him and then he will typically sit in his high chair and munch on bananas and cereal while I go about my work. Andrew gets himself up at 7:00 and heads out to feed the pigs, then gets himself coffee. I wake the girls up at 7:30 and they head out to feed the dogs and chickens and ducks while I'm making breakfast.  Breakfast is always a big affair around here.  We don't really do cereal much anymore, so I cook pretty much every morning, and it's important to my husband and growing teenage son to have a lot of calories at breakfast.  I've promised hubby eggs and potatoes every morning along with whatever else is being made.  It's something that's important to him, and as his helpmeet I need to be aware of what is important to him, and do it!  So, usually by the time my shower/makeup/hair routine is done and breakfast is cooked, it is around 8 am.  We all eat breakfast (I try to join in, but actually often I'm busy bustling about serving people, and I end up eating a little later).  Also during this busy breakfast time, I make hubby's oatmeal and smoothie (I'll post recipe soon)...these are done and set aside so that they're ready for him when he's hungry again later.  Afer breakfast, everyone gets busy on their morning jobs.  The girls and I clean the kitchen, then the girls head off to make their beds, help straighten the house, and brush their teeth and hair.  I spray down the bathroom and start the laundry.  This always seems to take awhile, because we are usually rotating baby duty.  School work generally starts sometime between 9:00 and 10:00.

Of course, keep in mind, this all depends on what day of the week it is.  On Monday mornings, we run errands so things look different, and on Wednesday mornings I have to put dinner in the crockpot because we are out at gymnastics in the afternoon.

Between 10 and 12, I spend a lot of time helping Abby with schoolwork and taking care of the baby when he's not taking his morning nap (if I'm lucky he will sleep during the whole chunk of time), plus doing any pick up or straightening that needs to be done around the house.  12:00-1:00 is spent preparing, eating, and cleaning up lunch, including getting the dishwasher started.  Laundry is rotated as needed, with the goal of having it all washed and dried by 4:00, since that is when the girls fold laundry.  After lunch break the kids get back on school work.  I'll usually take a short break around now and use the computer to "check in" (you know what I mean!).  Then while the kids finish working on school work, I'm rotating between baby care, helping kids, rotating laundry, and getting my "extra" chores for the day done, plus about an hour of garden work.  The extra chores are the ones that I do only once a week.  So, for example, on Thursdays I clean the bathroom.  On Fridays, we only do a short school day in the morning, and that is my "kitchen day" (Sara you know what I'm talking about).  I spend the afternoon: cleaning/scrubbing the fridge, washing all the appliances and canisters, etc, washing all the cabinets, mopping the floor, and starting on a meal plan/shopping list for the following week.

Once the kids are finished with their schoolwork for the day, they have a little free time until 4:00, which is afternoon chore time.  At this time, all the animals get fed, the girls fold and put away the laundry, Abby unloads the dishwasher, Annamarie vacuums, and Andrew takes out all the garbage.  The baby is usually taking his afternoon nap, and I get started on dinner.  Sometimes my garden work carries over into this time, so I just get dinner going when I get in (it all depends on how much work that particular night's dinner is!).

Once the kids are done with their afternoon chores, they mostly have free time until dinner, although one of them is often assigned to play with the baby so I can make dinner.

Dinner is at 6:00, and then the girls thoroughly clean the kitchen (I usually help a little bit).  I pretty much kick back and relax after that, other than caring for Adam.  Sometimes there is a little breakfast prep for the next morning to do, but not often.  Some nights we have dessert.  I do most of my fun computer time in the evenings.

One thing that I'm working on establishing, is having each one of the girls be either meal helper or laundry helper each day.  It's still a work in progress, but is my goal.

You can see that I'm sort of a "relaxed scheduler"...I don't have each hour scheduled but work more with "checkpoints":  Breakfast, lunch, afternoon chore time, dinner.

What do your days look like?  Please share!  You can respond here, or post a link to a post on your blog.  God bless!