A little love... or "what I would have done if..."

I wanted to make these in chocolate chip!

I've been dreaming up Valentine's Day plans for weeks now... and I've been using my new Pinterest account to help me!  I knew I wouldn't get to everything, but I thought that maybe if I could do just one or two, it would make the day special for my littles. 

Step one was going to be spending time talking about love... God's love, how we are to love one another, etc.  Now, we did do some "heart" activities early in the month and we've been memorizing Matthew 22:37-40, so I'm not a total failure, but as for the things below to make today special... not so much. 

But, I comfort myself with the reminder that it's been a bit hectic around here lately and I'm feeling pretty good to have gotten dinner on the table most nights.  :)

You see, all three of my children have been working through high fevers at their own paces over the last week and a half.  :(  Poor kids!  My 18 month old has it now.  Couple that with seemingly constant contractions and reduced (even more than normal) sleep for me... and an OB appointment this morning early, and it's no wonder things didn't happen!

So here are some of my favs from my V-Day board on Pinterest.  Click over to see the rest and link through to the originals!

Love the recycling happening here... if only I hadn't eaten all the candy canes!

Was totally going to make these with the kids for grandparents and single ladies at church!

Maybe someday...

I want to make this long one for another season too... maybe with changeable covers!

I ground the flour for these yesterday... do I get partial credit???

Love these!!  Maybe for Sweet Pea's birthday instead... in pink!

Labels: As it happens..., Chasing Three, Heart Strings, Home Making, Special Treats

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:44 PM 0 Comments

Being on the receiving end for a while

I was so excited to stumble on Our Simple Country Life a few weeks ago... and more excited to learn that she would be doing a series on Intentional Homemaking.  Ahhh...

Let me tell you... with baby number 4 coming, normal busy-ness, and a desire to be intentional myself... I'm going to let Our Simple Country Life feed this Suzy Homemaker meets Proverbs 31 for a while.  I'll probably insert a Suzy meets P31 post of my own here and there as I'm led, but in the mean time, join us over at Our Simple Country Life on Wednesdays for inspiration and challenges in being an Intentional Homemaker!

I'll be there!

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Life Lessons for Mommy, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 11:39 AM 0 Comments

2012 "Homesteading" Goals... In the house

From one of those meals I actually cooked at home!

Ok... so these could be considered good, old fashioned, homemaking goals.  Or goals for the keeper at home.  Or any other name you want to give it.  These goals would be goals if we weren't on a path to become "homesteaders" one day.  But to keep everything symmetrical, and since a "homestead" contains both an outside and an inside, I'm keeping it my "Homesteading" Goals.  And since tomorrow is the last day of January and we will officially be in the second month of the new year (and thus, the year really won't be new anymore), I figure I should get these goals posted, let alone written!

In the sidebar you'll see my list of goals before baby comes (just over 6 weeks now!).  That list may or may not grow longer as I think of things and will hopefully show my progress as time passes (though my new sewing machine is having a problem so I won't be sewing tonight... hopefully that will be fixed soon so I can continue to work on those projects!  'Cause I was really starting to feel like I was making headway.)  All this to say... I won't mention "before baby" specific goals in this post.  Anymore.  Sorry.  

So what are my homemaking goals for this year?  To be honest, they are vast.  And they range from all sorts of topics like cleaning to mothering to personal to whatever else my life touches in the day to day.  Because, really, doesn't it all play into our homes?  So I guarantee that not every one of my goals will be listed here.  In some cases I'll generalize (you'll appreciate me for that)... in others, maybe not so much.

One more thing... since we are adding baby number four (5 and under) in approximately 6 weeks and I know I will see some set backs as we adjust to being a family of 6 in 700 square feet, I'm establishing the goal "date" as being by the end of the year.  Hopefully in most cases I'll see these goals met way earlier than that, but since these are goals for 2012, I'm allowing myself all year to see victory without having "missed the mark" on any one of them. :)

Here we go:

• To establish a house cleaning routine I can follow... and to actually follow it faithfully!  (i.e. to have a clean home... to my husband's standards, not mine!)
• To plan and actually prepare meals (i.e. to eat at least 20 out of 21 meals a week at home... without getting take out)
• To have a meek and quiet spirit (a life long quest to be sure... but I'd love to see actual progress this year!)
• To stop yelling!
• To live life "on purpose" (home, marriage, children... all of it!)
• To seek to tie heart strings between me and my children.  
• To do more sewing for my home and family.

So there you have it.  I'm sure there are more... and I'm sure there are little steps to each of these big goals.  But now you can see a bit of my heart... and I've taken the time to put it down for my own review down the road!

Ultimately I wanted to list a single goal for this post...

1. To find, buy, and move to a new home.

But since I have no control over that at. all.  We'll stick with the ones I listed above.  What are your goals for your home this year?  


Joining in here.

Labels: Home Making, Homesteading, In the Kitchen, Keeping My Home, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:09 PM 1 Comments

Motherhood is hard!

When we bear it alone, sometimes it all gets to be too much.

Let's back up a little bit first... life is hard!  Relationships are hard!  Marriage is hard work... to have a good one, otherwise it's just hard!  Homemaking is hard work!  Mothering, on top of it all, is hard work!

And let's not forget to add to this the swishy swashy hormones that seem to constantly batter us up one side and down the other.  Regular hormone fluctuation, pregnancy hormones, postpartum hormones.  Then there is the constantly disrupted sleep of life with littles (or bigs).  The dreariness of winter.  And if you have a medical problem of some kind on top of it all.  Forget about it!  It's hard!

Sometimes it's just too hard.  And if you've got unsupportive friends and family (or even husband) around telling you what a bad job you're doing, you may just be ready to give up.  And many have.  Many women give up in self indulgence, in abandonment, in depression, or even in suicide.

But you see, whether you asked to be in the position you're in or not (house you live in, medical condition, number of children, etc), you are in it.  God, in his infinite wisdom, has placed you right where you are.  It's your job.  Your responsibility.  And it's going to be work... hard work!

Am I trying to make you feel worse?  No.  Because there is good news in all this...

God's grace is sufficient!  For His power is made perfect in your weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

So often we hear people say that God will not give us more than we can handle.  But perhaps that isn't a true statement.  Perhaps what we need to hear and remember is that God won't ever give us more than He can handle!  For those of us who know and trust Him, He has said that He will never leave us or forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5)

Do you know Him today?  Have you trusted Christ for your forgiveness and salvation?  Then you are not alone.  You can do this through His strength!  He promised a Helper.

But first, we need to seek His help.  We need to remember that we cannot, were never intended to, do this on our own. 

Are you struggling sister?  Are you buried in depression?  Hopelessness?  Being beaten down by those around you... by your own thoughts?

Today I am going to give you the first step. 

Seek Him!

Don't fret over the laundry list of failures, the insults, the overwhelming responsibilities.

Seek Him!

Whether you are curled up on the couch ignoring responsibilities (or at the computer as I often find myself), or just going through the motions of wiping one more nose, or hiding in your bed unable to make yourself move... wherever you are, whatever your ability today...

Seek Him!

No one can do this for you.  No one can pull you out of this pit you are in.  Not councilors, not friends, not your husband.  No one can help you until you decide to help yourself.

Where do you start?  Pray.  Start small if you have to.  Talk to Him.  Tell Him your heart, your hurts, your insecurities.

Still don't know?  Begin in worship. 

Prayer isn't coming?  Open your Bible.  Genesis 1 is a great place to remember just Who He Is!  If He can do all that, what can't He do?  Or maybe the Psalms.  David struggled more than once... but he didn't stay in it.  He brought it to God and many Psalms are the result of that time of intimacy with God.

And keep seeking Him.  Every moment you feel the darkness coming on, open your heart to Him.  Pray.  Pray.  And keep praying.  Can't sleep?  Pray.  

Again, no one can make you do this... but you have to start here.  The only alternative is to remain forever where you are.  Seek Him!  You're going to need it before I tell you about step 2!


Other posts in this series:
Part 2 ~ If you do what is right
Part 3 ~ In Which I am Harsh
Part 4 ~ The Next Step

Labels: Depression, Home Making, Life Lessons for Mommy, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:36 PM 1 Comments

Coming in May... um... tomorrow?

Ok... so how did that happen??? How did tomorrow become May? Or is it the other way around? How did May become tomorrow? That one sounds more like it.


So (since I've procrastinated it for a week or so), "coming up in May"... I'm going to be participating in "31 Days to Clean" with Sarah Mae. I've purchased her new ebook (and looked over it too... it's worth it from what I see!) and I'm ready to go. It may be just what we need to help us along on this Suzy meets P31 project of mine. Regardless... it should help get things clean around here. Will you join me???

(UPDATED: Join over at Joyful Mothering to do this with a group!)


Also in May is this great series on "homemaking for girls"! This woman has my heart! Just as we've been talking about in Suzy meets P31, so many of us never really learned to keep our homes. This month Homegrown Mom is helping us train our daugthers! YEY for her! Hop over and read her vision! :)

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Passing it On, Raising Children

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:15 AM 0 Comments

My Dailies: A Work in Progress

We talked last week about why it's important to have a schedule for our daily tasks around the house. Truly, it doesn't work for me to fly by the seat of my pants in this area (does it really work for any of us to live like that all the time?) I may start out fine, but by the end of the day, I may have started a hundred tasks, but none of them are finished (including dinner) and the house is still in disarray!

Sigh.

But I'm not a schedule person!

It's true. I'm not. I am no good at routine because it gets so old. When I need to do the same thing the same way everyday I start to go crazy.

At least, that's the way I feel. Come to think of it, I tend to give up (for that reason) before too many days are accomplished.

Like it or not ladies... we need to do this routine thing... follow these schedules we set for ourselves. If you don't like it... aren't a schedule person... then just "do it enyway"! Do it, get it over with, and move on to the rest of your day!

That is my goal!

So I started with a schedule. I'm really good at this part. I love making schedules and lists and such. I'm a planner!

What I'm not is a follow-througher. Not at all!

But I'm determined... so I made myself up a new schedule of "dailies". I followed Copperswife's example for now... and I'm tweaking it as needed to fit our family. I just liked the way hers worked. It's pretty detailed... and I like that. I need that if anything is ever going to get clean around here.

So here it is... not for you to copy down, but to show you how I'm doing it. Hopefully to encourage you to make your own. (Note: * means that this is Tornado's job [he's 4], ** means this is Sweet Pea's job [she just turned 3]... not that they always do them without help or that I even make them do it everyday. It's a work in progress... training!)

(Oh, and the green things are the "kitchen duty" part of the day... it helps me see what needs to be done in there after breakfast!)

• Dress, Hair, Shoes

• Swish and Swipe Bathroom

• Pull back bed covers to air bedding

• Start Laundry and Recycle throughout day (Washer to dryer, dryer to folding, folding to put away and ironing)

• Put away Dishes/Wipe Counters

• Make Breakfast

• Clear breakfast dishes *,**

• Shake out bibs into trash and fold *

• Wash dishes **

• Wipe Table *

• Scour and/or wash kitchen sink

• Spray and Wipe kitchen counters, moving things aside to wipe underneath *

• Spray and Wipe stove top

• Wipe oven front **

• Wipe upper cupboard doors

• Wipe lower cupboard doors **

• Grind flour (if necessary)

• Sweep Floor **

• Hang up dish clothes and towels neatly *

• Check dinner menu and defrost any frozen ingredients

• Make beds (everyone makes own bed and mom checks)

• Tidy bedrooms (laundry and toys, surfaces, dusting, etc)

• Tidy living room *,**

• Vacuum living room *

• 5 Minute de-clutter (of some cluttered space)
  

• Scheduled cleaning (more on this later)
  

• Fold and put away laundry *, **

• Make lunch

• Clear lunch dishes *,**

• Shake out bibs into trash and fold or take to wash *

• Wash dishes **

• Wipe table and counters *

• Hang/straighten towels and dish clothes **

• Iron (anything from the day's laundry)

• Make diner

• Tidy for Daddy *, **

• Clear table *,**

• Shake out bibs into trash and fold or take to wash *

• Wash dishes **

• Wipe table and counters*

• Clean stove

• Clean sink

• Hang/straighten towels and dish clothes or take to wash **

• Review day and make notes for tomorrow

So... I imagine this looks like a lot. It did to me at first too. But really, once I'm in a routine of doing it, it shouldn't take too long at all. In addition to that... I'm really working to change my mindset about work. (I love this post by the way... and it's becoming my inspiration for a whole [in progress] philosophy of child raising... not to mention life!)


So here it is "in living color". It lives above my sink (and often my drying dishes) so that I can see it and check it often. One day, when I feel like I won't be changing it for a while, I'll laminate it so that sink spray and food splatter don't get it all messed up!


Have you put together your schedule??? I'll be sharing how this week goes with the schedule at the end! I hope you'll share too!

By the way... Those first three things rarely happen in the first part of the day... if ever. It's all a goal... remember!


Joining in...

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:04 PM 6 Comments

Priorities: The Good Part

We've met Suzy, and talked about Whom we do it all for, what a homemaker really is all about, and determined to do our husbands good, not harm!... but where is the real stuff? Where is the practical... the how to? When are we going to talk about what we really need to talk about to find change?

I have two answers for that. First, we already are. If we jump right in to cooking lessons (still to come) and the "how tos" of cleaning the toilet (among other things) without first finding our true motivation, we're eventually going to leave that toilet brush in it's holder. Who wants to touch that yuck after all? So go back and read (or re-read... I've done it and I wrote them!) those early posts... it'll do you a world of good to get things started on the right foot!

My second answer... soon! In fact, I had every intention of kicking off the home management and cleaning portions of "Suzy meets P31" this week... today. But, it's occurred to me that "one [post] is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:42 KJV)

Have you met Martha? Mary? They were followers of Jesus... friends. They loved him dearly, followed him, ministered to him. On at least one occasion, they welcomed Jesus into their home. Actually, it says that "a woman named Martha opened her home to him." (Luke 10:38) First of all... can you imagine??? What an honor! The Lord of heaven and earth a guest in her home. What must that have been like? I can only imagine she wanted everything to be perfect, wouldn't you? (Rabbit trail: are you aware that Jesus tells us that "whatever [we do] for one of the least of these... [we do] for him"? [Matthew 25:40] Remember that the next time... every time... you have the opportunity to serve your sweet family in some way!)

But before long, the joy of serving Jesus became a burden of making everything just right. She began to grumble in her heart (it doesn't actually say that, but don't we usually grumble in our hearts before we ever utter a complaint aloud?) Scripture says "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made". She actually complained to Jesus that her sister, who was sitting at His feet listening to Him, wasn't helping her. And Jesus answered her, "“Martha, Martha... you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Aren't we so often a Martha in our own homes? (If we're going to be either of them that is.) I struggle enough with discipline in this area, but add to that trying to build a routine and get a grip on my household... forget it!

If I succeed in becoming Suzy Homemaker, yet don't grab that Proverbs 31 part... one thing will be needful!

If I master routines, discipline myself in the art of homemaking, become a gourmet chef, yet fail to spend daily time in the presence of my King, I've missed "that good part." (KJV)

But ugh! It's so hard! I have three littles, 4 years old and younger... with at least one early riser. I'm trying to get to bed earlier, but still... it's hard! So here's what I do (when I do it... I'm still working on this one)...

On the mornings/days I don't make it up or take the time to be with my Lord before the kids are up, we simply take time together. This morning, for instance (since I actually did it today... woo hoo), after the breakfast dishes were done and the kitchen was looking ok, I announced it was "Bible time" and everyone was to get their Bibles so Mommy could read hers. We've done this before, so it wasn't completely foreign... though it's been a while. I reminded them that they needed to look at their "Bibles" (Bible storybooks) while I read mine and pray. Then when I am done, we'd read together. It takes lots of reminders (with my newly 3 year old especially), but hopefully they'll eventually get it. It gives me time to spend in the Word, demonstrates my time in the Word and prayer to my children, and starts them in a time of their own. It works for me!


Now... your turn! This week, take a look at the time you spend (or don't spend) in the presence of the King, reading His Word, in prayer. Does something need to change? Do you need to/can you get up a little earlier? Is there a nap time (theirs, not yours) that would work? Or can you build in a family "quiet" time to get "alone" with your Savior? Maybe you don't have kids yet and just need to discipline yourself to stop, stop "...[worrying] and [being] upset about many things" and simply "...[choose] that good part".

We'll touch base Friday where I'll share how I did this week... and you'll have a chance to report in too!

I'm joining in with...

Labels: From God's Word, Home Making, Life Lessons for Mommy, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:22 PM 4 Comments

Who are you doing all this for?

Christmas was behind us. New Years was approaching and the news was full of Sri Lanka. Tsunamis. Death.

For so many... death, fear and loss. But in my little corner of the world the all consuming last minutes details of my wedding were frazzling my mind. I caught the news and watched the videos and prayed with the world... all while finishing this, arranging that.

On Tuesday or Wednesday before our Sunday afternoon wedding the stressors were really starting to mount. Most of the plans and prep were falling on me. My parents were coming in to Southern California from Oregon in a couple more days. My Beloved would be there from Pennsylvania soon too. In the mean time, it was me... and so many willing to help out. Still, this had to be done, that had to be done, this was going wrong, those people had to be met with, that had to be picked up. Most of you know what it is like. If I had my wedding to do over again, it would be different... simpler (and that is saying a lot!), but I don't. And there I was.

I was blessed to be living with a wonderful Godly family when I was in the So. Cal. area (as apposed to up in Oregon with my parents where I had moved temporarily). That morning I was particularly stressed and Vicky (mom of the house) stopped me just outside the kitchen. "Who are you doing all this for?" she asked me in her way.

I stood there and looked at her.

Who was I doing it all for?

Me?

My Beloved?

Did I really want our wedding to be all about us?'

No... we wanted it to be all about Him!

All of a sudden I was hearing parts of a worship song from Sunday morning. It's all about You, Jesus. And all this is for You!

I thanked her immediately. I walked away from that conversation at peace and that song became the theme for my wedding. If my pianist had known it, we would have sung that song with all our guests during the ceremony (imagine my sadness when we couldn't!)

And here it is for you... (close your eyes if you can... I found the pics on this video distracting. But I wanted you to hear it, so here it is!)



Had you ever heard it? Have you ever really thought about the words? Sung them from your heart?

I have several times over the last 6+ years... though more in the beginning than recently.

Recently...

Recently (as in the last few weeks), it has come back before me. I heard it playing on another blog I was reading and it stopped me in my tracks! I wish I could say I've lived each day singing it out to Him. I haven't. But I have been thinking a lot about it.

It was the perfect theme for our wedding.

But really... it's the perfect theme for our lives. For our marriage.

And get this. Are you ready?

It's the perfect theme for our homemaking... and all it includes.

It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You All the dishes, toilets, midnight feedings, mopping, wiping noses...
For Your glory and your fame
It's not about me Not about how great a martyr mother I can be...
As if You should do things my way easy children, obedient children, no fighting, etc.
You alone are God You Jesus... You are God. Not me. You are the Center. The Creator!
And I surrender to your ways Your ways... you who knows everything and has a purpose for Your greatest good!

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all my days
For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You

So how are you doing this week??? I'm thrilled to know of at least a couple ladies who are going to walk this road with me! How about you? Do you need this as much as I do?

Monday I told you that my first goal was to get dressed! I've got three days in a row on that. How about you? Friday (get ready), I'm hoping to have you join me in sharing some pics of you... dressed! Completely. Feminine. With hair done and all! I'm going to find a way to do the same. If you have a blog, post on it and share the link. If you don't... maybe you could share the link to your facebook page or Flicker or something. (And if you're joining me via blog... grab my newly available button from the sidebar!)

Today's challenge... listen to that song again (and again!) Think through those lyrics!

Do we do what we do every day for Him? And if we really do... does that mean we are doing our best for him? Or lazying around for Him? (I know my answer.) Are we raising those children for him? Or are we frustrated and impatient when they just won't obey or when things don't go quite the way we plan? (Again... I know my answer!)



Joining in with Ann today too...



Haven't read the other posts in this series???

• A new Series: Suzy Homemaker meets Proverbs 31

Labels: Home Making, Life Lessons for Mommy, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 11:31 AM 0 Comments

A new Series: Suzy Homemaker meets Proverbs 31

Suzy Homemaker.

Dictionary.com tells us she is "a housewife who manages a household, esp. with enthusiasm; also, the stereotype of any woman who chooses a traditional female role."

She was the quintessential happy homemaker of the 1960s (named such after a brand of children's play kitchen appliances.) Before "homemaker" was a dirty word. And maybe it was her apron, or perhaps the nice dress and pearls, but I'm pretty sure she knew what she was doing.

And why not? She had most likely learned it all from her mother, seen it in the mothers around the neighborhood.

Fast forward to our time. Our mothers worked hard, many of them pulling double duty in the work force and at home. And many of them did it all. All the meals, all the laundry, all (or at least most) of the cleaning. All in the hours after work, while we ran and played. Offering to us the best childhoods they knew how.

And who can blame them. Why not? (Perhaps we'll investigate this some time.)

In the mean time, however, it has (by no deliberate act of those loving mommas mind you) left you and I unprepared to be wife and mommy as the Scriptures say we should be. And I don't know about you, but it seems to be one thing to believe and be passionate about the ideals and truths taught in the Bible on these matters, and quite another to take it and run with it. It's quite another thing indeed to manage a home as described in Proverbs 31.

It's been 6 years of marriage (and some single years before that) to finally come to the place I am today. Admitting that I'm flailing in all things home.

I'm flailing in my home keeping.

Flailing in the kitchen.

Flailing in mommying these precious littles.

Definitely flailing in "[watching] over the affairs of [my] household
and... not [eating] the bread of idleness." (Read: lazy)

Sure... I have the theories. I have the conviction. And in many cases, I know what should be done. But as I'm coming to realize (a little slow are we?) it's another thing to actually do them.

Boy I wish I'd spent some serious time learning and training myself in this art in the years before I was married (um... teen and pre-teen years anyone???), or even in the time before my first baby came. Can you imagine how easy that would have been? What else did I have to do?

Still, I've determined it's not too late. My husband is not doomed to arrive home to no dinner and a messy house and a wife who conveniently forgot to check the mirror today for the rest of his life. Even with 3 littles 4 and under, change is still possible.

And, dun da da dun... I plan on taking you all with me. Secretly I know I need the accountability of someone to report to, but I also know that it's possible that I'm not the only one out there in this position. And, I'll admit. I'm hoping some of you will come along with me. I make no promises to offer you any new information (there is so much great info out there already), but I hope to chronicle my journey in homemaking and to leave a road map others can follow along behind.

Won't you join me??? Are you unmarried??? This is for you! Are you still waiting for children? Definitely for you! Married 6 (or more) years and still feel like a failure every day? Um... that's me, so it's certainly for you!

I'll get in to more specifics as we go along. You never know what your going to get. But as the "series" says, this is "Suzy Homemaker meets Proverbs 31." Expect the Bible. Expect a radical change from our culture's world view to a Biblical one.

Let's take some baby steps. But more importantly than that... let's just take the steps!


And how am I starting??? I'm getting dressed tomorrow! Sometime in the morning (i.e. before 12 noon). Oh sure, I usually put something on. My robe becomes cumbersome after a while. So my rule takes things a step further. It will be a real outfit (not "jammie clothes"). It will be feminine (not jeans and a sweat shirt). And I will do my hair (not pull unbrushed hair into a bun so no one can see how bad it is). I'm going to give myself bonus points for brushing my teeth.

It's a start... who's with me?

Labels: Home Making, Life Lessons for Mommy, Suzy meets P31

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 9:56 PM 3 Comments

I'm dreaming of a clothes line

We created senior portraits for a girl from our church a couple weeks ago. We were out at their home, using their land, creating portraits with her horse. As we crossed the yard behind the house toward the goats, the mom began apologizing for her clothes line filled with jeans.

"It doesn't bother us." My Beloved told her. "She'll probably want to take a picture of it for her blog."

The woman was appalled. Why would anyone want to take a picture of someone else's wash line?

For one simple reason, really.

In at least a few ways, she was living the life we want to be living.

Labels: Home Making, Homesteading

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 5:25 AM 1 Comments

A truly sad testiment

I was clicking through a few news articles online today when I happened on one that really made me sad... if not climb a little higher up on my soap box!

Did you know there was a "50 and Fabulous Gala Benefit"? Didn't sound so bad in and of itself, until I read the next line where I learned they were "celebrating 50 year of Women's advances since the Pill." I guarantee I'll never think of Cybill Shepherd the same again. (And what's more, it was benefiting all sorts of abortion supporting organizations here in the states and abroad.)

Fifty years of women's advances since "the Pill"? From where I sit it's more like 50 years of societies regression. 50 years of stepping, day by day, away from the heart of God.

This has me wondering. Where would we be if "the Pill" was never created... never introduced? Where would we be if, instead of stepping out, women had made another decision 50, 80, 100 years ago and each year since? Where would we be today if women had made the decision to stay put? Support their husbands? Keep their homes? Raise their children?

Was this really an advance? Are women really needed outside the home more than inside the home?

In case you can't tell where I stand on this issue, I don't think so!



I don't often delve into controversial topics on this blog... it's a little scary. I know there are a lot of people out there who disagree with me on this point (though I don't know how many of them read my blog). I would ask this...if you disagree with anything I (or others in the comments) have said, please have Scripture to back it up. I will not post negative comments that do not include Scripture to back up their opinion. And let's remember to build one another up! Thanks!


(Updated: I've been enjoying the conversation in the comments... join us!)

Labels: Home Making, Rants

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 6:08 AM 7 Comments

A New Plan... my menu planner

3... a magic number. (Just ask my husband!) What is so important about the number 3, you may ask??? Well, it's the number of nights *in. a. row.* that I've planned, made, and served dinner.

You're laughing.

I'm serious. And not just about the fact that I've had dinner for my family three nights in a row... I'm serious about the fact that this is a huge thing!

Let's just say I've been struggling in a few areas. Let's just say I'm still struggling in most of those (read: all). I may look good on paper (er... computer screen?), but the reality is that none of the evidence looks it. The house? No. The laundry? No. Dinner time? No.

But I'm working on it... I am. And I'm hoping to chronicle some of that for you (yeah, sorry about that) here.

I sat down the other day to put together a menu for the week (so excited and proud of myself at the time) and then decided to take just a few minutes to create a place to write it (instead of a 3x5 card). Two and a half hours later, nap time was over and I was just putting the finishing touches on my new menu planner (and not my menu) . More form than function really... but oh so cute (and without any color ink needed!)

I may make some changes down the road (you know, after I've actually used it), but I wanted to share it with you... in case it will inspire you to make a plan and actually prepare dinner for your family (not that anyone else struggles with that.)

Here it is... my Meal Planner, in regular and binder editions. (The first is intended to be used on a clipboard or on the fridge... then I thought I might like to put older ones in a binder for reference, so I adjusted it for the holes.)

Ok... so I know they don't look any different now... but trust me, the second one is for the binder! :)

I hope it's a blessing!

Labels: Home Making, In the Kitchen, Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:41 AM 1 Comments

Dying to Self

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds....
Ephesians 4:22-23

When I first revisited the idea of "dying to self" this past fall, I started wondering what the Biblical backing of this very "Christianese" saying was. I just couldn't remember which verse it was from. Turns out that it isn't a verse after all. So where did we get it. I knew it wasn't original to myself... I'd heard it somewhere and I'd heard teachings of the concept.

A number of years before marrying My Beloved I was part of a Bible Study that studied, among other things, the book of Colossians. In fact, we spent a lot of time studying Colossians, and the thing I remember parking on and have carried with me ever since is the whole idea of "putting off" and "putting on". It's this idea of putting away the old self. It's not enough to just change the way we do things as believers, or to start doing good. A number of places in the Bible talks about this whole idea (Romans 8:13, Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:5 [and others throughout Colossians] to name a few... I'm sure there are more) of putting off the old self, putting to death the deeds of the body and all in all "dying to self".

But what does this mean in daily life? Sure it means I shouldn't lie or steal or hate... but it occurred to me this past fall that it means something more than that. It creeps in to every facet of our daily lives... not just the moments we are "struggling with sin".

So what does it mean to me??? It means picking up and doing what needs to be done... even though I don't feel like doing it. Even though I didn't get enough sleep last night. Even though kids are sick. Even though I am sick. It means that no matter what, I need to Do It Enyway!

Did you catch that??? Do. It. Enyway. For me to "mortify the flesh" on a daily, moment by moment basis, I need to "put to death the deeds of the body"... for me, this is my very flesh. My desires, my laziness, "me time". When something comes up or needs to be done or a baby cries or needs to be disciplined or trained again, I need to just Do It Enyway... despite whatever I may be feeling.

When I want to sit at the computer, read a book, stare out at the street, talk to a friend on the phone... I need to die to my fleshly desires for self. These desires aren't sinful in themselves, but anything that takes me away from the purpose the Lord has given me in this life needs to be put off, so that I can put on the new and Do It Enyway!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go fold the laundry and do something about dinner! And it's not because I want to... it's my next step in DIE-ing to self!

Labels: From God's Word, Home Making, Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 3:53 AM 0 Comments

Getting it done

(We're cruising! This post has been written ahead and scheduled to post during our time away. Please feel free to leave comments. If I don't get around to moderating them while we are gone, I'll do it when we return next week. Blessings!)

The last 4ish years of my life (and especially the last 2-3 since children entered my world) have been an ongoing struggle for discipline in my life. There is so much to do... and so much I just don't want to do, don't have "time" to do, don't have energy to do.... It goes on and on and on! The house needs to be cleaned (and I mean really cleaned), not to mention de-cluttered and put away, laundry needs folding and ironing, beds need changing, lists need making, dishes need washing, things need organizing, calls need making, floors need sweeping. Again, the list goes on and on. The constant struggle is that I'm just not getting it done. And this says nothing for extra projects.

Understand, I'm not saying that I'm working hard night and day and can't keep up with it all. I know that is the case with a lot of us, and if I was really trying, it may still be the case with me one day. When I look at that whole idea, I'm more than happy to look at my season in life and adjust my standards. No, I'm just not getting to it. I'm looking at it and finding that I'm wasting my time instead of doing what needs doing. I find myself at the end of the day, looking back at all that I've done, and most of the time it's not much. Sure... I can find a few things that I did, but mostly I realize how much more I could have done if I hadn't wasted my time during the rest of the day.

I am grateful that I've seen some improvement in the last few months... though not every day by any means (today for instance was not a productive day). I find that the days I actually take these steps I am much more productive!!

• Plan! I do this the night before when I can. I keep a journal like book nearby and make a new list for each day. I think through all that could be done and decide what I want or need to do tomorrow. I make this list as it comes to me, not necessarily in priority order. Then I may number the first few things I want to do (not all of them, but the next 2-3 on my list) and tackle those. When I've done and crossed off those things (I love crossing off), I'll re-number the next few. This way I can re-prioritize if things don't go according to plan (and when do they ever???)
• Get up early! I'm working to get better at this. At least I was. I fell off the band wagon recently and am excited to return from our cruise so I can get back to it. I get so much more done when I get up early. Because this isn't something I'm used to, I'm doing it in steps. First I moved our 8am alarm to 7:30 for me... then 7:15... then 7. I only did the 7am one a couple times before things got crazy and late nights seemed the norm again. The plan is to get up as early as 6:30 or earlier someday. When I can get up before the kids I have time for reading God's Word (no guarantee it will happen otherwise), pray, put away dishes, straighten anything out of place, blog and computer time (allowing for me to turn off the computer the rest of the day till nap time), etc. Someday I may even get up early enough to include a shower in the morning. I can't even imagine what that must be like!
• Clean up the kitchen before bed! This one is huge. If I can have the dishes done, counters wiped down, and the kitchen table cleared and cleaned before we go to bed, it does more than just save me time in the morning needing to do these things. It affects my outlook on the whole day. It makes me smile! When I forget or forgo this step in the evenings, I tend to spend my morning putting off the job as long as possible. There is much more lolly-gagging and procrastination. When I do them, I'm much more excited to see what else I can accomplish with my day.
• Get it done before lunch! As far as all those items on my to do list... I need to get them done before lunch. Once we're done with lunch and I get the kids down for their naps, I'm about out of energy. Especially during pregnancy! If I can get it done before that time, then I don't have to worry about. Anything else I do is just extra... like those projects I never get to!

This is what's been working for me. Like I said, I'm looking forward to coming home from this vacation with my husband to renewed energy and resolve to stick to this and see things happen around here. What works for you???

Labels: Home Making, Keeping My Home, Mommy's Tool Box

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 7:04 AM 0 Comments

My working copy

I mentioned that I'm working through rearranging our lives and such. I've followed the advice over at Preschoolers and Peace and made my "Rock List". Read it (even before you finish my post... it has great wisdom in it and I'm excited to press on toward organization (of life and home) since reading her series.

Though I really think this is my finished list, I'm reserving the right to make changes still. You may find that it is very similar to Kendra's Rock List, but I'm ok with that. She challenged us to make our lists on our own before seeing hers, but I just wasn't happy with mine (anything I came up with) until I saw better what she meant. So, I started with hers and made adaptations and changes... my family is different than hers after all.

I'll take some time to walk you through each and explain what they look like/should look like in my life another time (perhaps after I've officially adopted it as "my list". But for now, here is my working copy...

1. Time devoted to God: time seeking, worshiping, studying, and in the presence of the Lord.

2. Time devoted to My Love: time spent with him and on the things important to him.

3. Feed/clothe family and keep home sanitary (though house cleaning takes back seat to business when it needs to according to My Beloved!)

4. Train up my children in the way which they should go (inc. “education” , character, life skills etc.)

5. Run our business (this needs to be done, but shouldn’t take the place of any of the other items, except maybe cleaning, per my husbands request).

As I said, it's a working copy, so it may change a bit, but I'm pretty sure it's basic structure is going to stay the same... at least for this season of my life.

Have you given any thought to your "Rock list", your "top five", or your "priority order"? I'd love to read it!

Labels: Home Making, Mommy's Tool Box, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:18 AM 0 Comments