Woot! Woot! Time to Get Ready for a New Month!

It's two days before a new month; time to fill out a monthly goal sheet...something I love to do!  The key is to pray and then go for it; picking just ONE GOAL per category.  Let's be real, if we do more than one, then we don't even have a chance of accomplishing them all.  I don't think I've ever accomplished everything, but I'd like to at least have a chance!  So, JUST ONE THING.  What is God putting on your heart for each category this month?  

Here's mine.  (With names blurred out for privacy sake.) 😁

And, some blank ones for you. 😉

Generic Monthly Goals Sheet

Blank Monthly Goals Sheet

Menu Planning - Ugh!

I hate menu planning!  Sometimes I wonder if Satan knows how great life is when I menu plan, and that is why I have this mental block.  I was really good with planning our meals when we went gluten-free.  Now, this week, we have fallen apart.  So the struggle begins.  I have done this in the past, so I don't know why it's such a hassle.  I need to start with prayer:
Dear Lord, Please release the block on my brain regarding menu planning.  I pray that I will be able to sort through what my family likes and doesn't like, and what type of meals we need to go with our schedule.  I pray that this time spent will be profitable to my family.  Above all, may Your will be done.  In Jesus name I pray--Amen
Whew!  OK
STEP ONE: What type of meals does my family like to eat?
Pasta, Mexican, Stir-Fry, BBQ, Sandwich, Basic, Leftovers  Alright, that was pretty easy. 


STEP TWO: Basic Weekly Template (We don't eat fish or pork.)
Sunday: BBQ with double meat for leftovers.
Monday: Chicken
Tuesday: Ground Beef
Wednesday: Leftovers/Date Night
Thursday: Chicken
Friday: Beef


STEP THREE: Plug in recipes using each meal type one time per week.
WEEK ONE:
Sunday: BBQ with double meat for leftovers.
Monday: Green Spaghetti broccoli, fruit
Tuesday: Taco lettuce wraps (or tacos), refrieds, Spanish rice?
Wednesday: Leftovers/Date Night
Thursday: Chicken Stir Fry using leftover grilled or crock pot chicken.  Rice, broccoli, fruit
Friday: Shredded Beef with lots of leftovers for weekend lunches.  Onion, carrots, other veg and fruit


WEEK TWO:
Sunday: BBQ with double meat for leftovers.
Monday: Greek Pizza, salad, veg, fruit
Tuesday:  Ground Beef Stir Fry, rice, broccoli
Wednesday: Leftovers/Date Night
Thursday: SW Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps, refrieds, chips, veg
Friday: Shredded Beef Sandwiches with leftovers for weekend.


WEEK THREE:
Sunday: BBQ with double meat for leftovers.
Monday: Chicken Quesadillas, refrieds, spa rice?, guac
Tuesday: Lasagna in a bowl., or just plain old lasagna
Wednesday: Leftovers/Date Night
Thursday: Turkey Breast (for a change!) From Cost-Co., veg, fruit
Friday: Chalupa (roast, no surprise here!), beans, chips, veg, fruit


ALRIGHT, JUST ONE WEEK LEFT TO GO!


WEEK FOUR:
Sunday: BBQ with double meat for leftovers.
Monday: Chicken Caesar Salad, veg, fruit
Tuesday: Indian Ground Beef
Wednesday: Leftovers/Date Night
Thursday: Summer Chicken "Burgers", veg, fruit
Friday: Shredded Beef Burritos, refrieds, veg, fruit


Holy smokes!  Seriously, I don't know why doing this hurts so badly.  It is such a load off to have this done.  Even if we don't stick with it, at least there's a plan. 
How's your plan?  Are you good at this, or do you struggle like me?  If you don't meal plan, I urge you to try it.  Don't follow mine, create your own - unique to your family.  Go for it!  Just don't forget to look at it when life gets moving.  :)


Dear Lord, Thank You for the resources to plan these meals.  I pray that I will remember to follow it.  May it bring good, healthy food and peace to our family.  In Jesus name I pray--Amen


 

Early Dinnertime!

Sigh, today is the first day of school, and I am missing my kids!  Many great things have happened this summer.  Our family has settled into a nice routine.  One major thing that will be different this year is dinner.  Usually, the kids and I get home from school and we are HUNGRY!  We kick back and eat, eat, eat.  Then it's time to make dinner.  Do you see the problem here?  I end up rushing around trying to get a million things done and cook dinner at the same time.  My daughter and I usually end up in some sort of passionate argument because I am stressed to the max knowing that when hubby gets home he will be as hungry as we were, and VERY grumpy if he can't eat right away.
Gone are these days!  It is official: dinner time is 4 pm.  We tested this out two days ago, and it was amazing!  The kids and I ate a healthy dinner, and things were cleaned up and stress free when Dad got home.  We don't eat dinner with Dad, but we do relax with him, and have time to play afterward.  I spent the evening marveling at how peaceful and joyful life could be.  I think this is the way to go for us.  How about your family?  Spend some time watching and praying about what would be best in your household.
Dear Father, thank You for this revelation.  I think You have been prompting me for quite some time, and I am thankful that You didn't give up!  In Jesus Name I pray-- Amen

Baby Step: Keep the Table Clean!

I have been pondering what is truly important in life.  I am tired of stinking thinking...worrying what I look like, what others think of me, getting overwhelmed by all the little things that need to be done.  I know someone who fighting just to be alive one more day.  She is still preparing to go to work when school begins, and desires to see her first grandchild be born and her youngest son graduate high school.  Life is truly this fragile, but we all to often forget.  With this reminder, my musings now are often about "What is truly important?".
I was recently reminded of a quote that goes something like this, "We are not raising children, but adults."  Which begs the question, what kind of adults are we raising our kids to be?  The habits I help my kids form now, are the habits they will take with them into adulthood.  Therefore, keeping the house clean, and teaching them to be responsible stewards of their belongings is truly important.  Plus, as a bonus, by taking care of things as we go, and not letting them pile up, we should have more time to enjoy life.
I have decided we need a baby step: KEEP THE TABLE CLEAN.  Baby steps are like battles in the war.  My war is against people who don't clean up their messes when they are done.  I am SO tired of seeing dishes in our living room.  Not to mention that tv is not truly important.  Guess what?  We are going to start eating at the table.  What a unique idea.  Our table is over 100 years old.  It stretches out to seat over 12 people, and I love to think of the families that have sat around this table in the past.  I want our family to be a part of that history.
School is starting for us next week, and I have been plagued with a sadness as I realize how little time I have left with my children living at home.  My daughter is entering seventh grade.  I just want to grab her and spend every moment I have with her.  My son is going into fourth grade.  I love the stories and conversations that come about while we are eating together around the table.  I think a question I have been pondering may have just been answered.  Maybe now is not the time to be thinking of opening an ETSY shop.  Maybe now is the time to be focused on my family and what they love to do.  For when they are gone, I will have plenty of time to pursue my dreams.  Hmmm.
Dear Lord,
Please open my eyes to what is truly important, and to Your will.  May I have no regrets.  In Jesus Name I pray--Amen. 

Living Free and Simply--Victory in the War on Clutter

Wow.  God granted me the energy to go full-steam for three days de-cluttering our house.  I have sorted through every cabinet and drawer here!  Then I totally crashed on Sunday, which was appropriate as it is supposed to be the Sabbath anyway.  Husband was so happy with my hard work, he was pleased to let me relax and do as I pleased.  Victory in many ways!
The kids and I went through each of their rooms together, and I am happy to say every drawer can now close, and some are even empty!  The closets are pleasant to look at and they rediscovered toys they forgot about.  We filled up multiple garbage bags and tubs to take to the thrift stores.  In the process we really thought about our buying habits and what is really important to us.  Anything we buy, we will have to take care of...will we really enjoy it, or will we end up having to sort through it and give it away?  I don't think any of us wants to sort through anything in the near future!  The fewer things we have, the simpler life is.  We don't want to be hindered by our stuff.  We want to be free to go where God leads us.
Sweet Will did have time to spend some money this weekend, and he made a good purchase.  He loves to spend money as soon as he gets it, but we made him wait a week to really think about it this time.  He decided to buy a watch.  A good purchase, because now that we have gone through his room, we know he doesn't have one.  There were so many things we had two or more of just because we didn't keep good track of our things.
Now on to the second battle--keeping things picked up!  Everything has a place, now we just need to develop good habits.  For instance, when you are done with something, put it away.  Put your garbage into the trash can--yes, I actually do find it strewn about the house.  This is something I just don't understand.  The iAllowance app is up and running.  More on that later this week.  Today we clean--vacuum, dust, etc.  Tomorrow the real battle begins.