Finish

            Well, it’s finally happened. My word for the year, chosen in January, is ‘Finish’, and it is now April and I finally finished some things. I started working on this website in November and voila! Here it is finished.

            A family member, who shall remain nameless, suggested the word Finish when I was trying to decide what to focus on for the year. Last year I chose the word Joy, and that was a good year. I wanted to choose another word like Happy, Cheerful or Fun, but those didn’t seem right. After looking around at all my unfinished projects, stacks of paper and writing assignments lying around, I agreed the word Finish would be a good focus word for the New Year.

            I love to start new projects, but after a while my enthusiasm wanes, and sometimes I have trouble finishing the projects, especially with mundane tasks like balancing the checkbook or filing insurance claims. So, after much determination I focused and attacked the piles of paper clutter that had accumulated on and around my desk. It took some hours but now that these things are truly finished, I feel like a huge burden has been lifted.

            During Easter week when we are reminded of Jesus’ famous words on the cross, “It is finished,” I am grateful for the burden He took on for us. To know that He took the burden of our sins on Himself, and paid the price with His life, is overwhelmingly humbling.

            A woman whose husband recently passed away told me she was so grateful she learned that Jesus loved her and forgave her for her sins. She became a changed person a few years ago, after the burden of carrying her past and her struggles were forgiven. She said she knew about Jesus and Him dying on the cross, but never knew He did it for her personally and that she could come to know the God who loved her. She said her husband received Christ as his Savior on his deathbed, and told her it was because he had seen her life change when she started following Christ. Amazing.

            I’m thankful Jesus finished His work on the cross to pay for our sins. But I am also thankful He is not finished with us. The Bible says,

“ I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6.

            Do you have any unfinished business, personal or spiritual, you need to do this year? Feel free to share my word for the year. Finish.

Once a Month Cleaning

          I love to read organizing blogs and articles. I like to read about systems, simplifying, becoming more productive and yes, even better ways to clean and organize my house. Many blogs like this also cover organizing meal plans. One of the concepts I tried, without success, is once a month cooking. I read about it. I planned. I bought all the food. I even attempted to chop, sort, bag and freeze some of the items. I’m not sure where exactly it fizzled out, somewhere between the prepping, chopping and freezing. It seemed easier just to cook everything.

           As I was vacuuming this week I contemplated why I was not more successful with once a month cooking. Then it hit me. I may be a once a month cooking failure, but when it comes to once a month CLEANING, I am a rock star! I am a natural at once a month cleaning. It must be a gift! I have never had to read a book or a blog about once a month cleaning. It never occurred to me that this is a skill or something to be valued. I am considering starting a new website dedicated to once a month cleaning!


           Why and how does once a month cleaning work for me?

1. First, it helps to be a minimalist when it comes to home decorating. I think I fell into being a minimalist naturally when I couldn’t decide how to decorate and what to buy, so I didn’t. The house we are in now has a lot of windows, thus very little wall space to hang things or put decorative items.

2. I also realized having kids helps. I know this seems contradictory because kids are the ones who mess up the house. But, when they are old enough to do chores and value money they can be bribed rewarded when they clean the house. (i.e. a dollar to make their bed, a dollar for cleaning the bathroom, a dollar for cleaning and picking up the living room.) As they have grown older it seems they always want something from me. So, I attached that something to a house-cleaning chore.

When they want to go to a friend’s house - “Sure, as soon as these clothes are folded and put away.”

When they want a friend to come over - “Sure, as soon as your room is cleaned and vacuumed.”

When they want to play video games - “Sure, I need the trash taken out and the kitchen mopped before you start.”

The list goes on and on. Just this week, “Mom, can you order something for me from Amazon?” “Absolutely. While I am doing that please empty the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen. Thanks.”

           This seriously cuts down on the amount of cleaning that is left for me to do.

3. At least once a month we have some type of event at our house. We have a meeting, a Bible study, a party or have friends over for dinner. That is when I do my once a month whole house cleaning. It works out great. The house is not too dirty because little cleaning chores have been taken care of throughout the month.

           Instead of kicking myself for being a once a month cooking fail, I decided to embrace the skills I do have.

           Being a Pastor’s wife, I see people who treat worshiping the Lord like I treat cleaning house. Studies show the average church goer attends about once a month. If there is an event or a special holiday like Christmas or Easter, more people attend.

           As much as I am in the habit of once a month cleaning, I know it is not the best. There are definitely gaps that could be filled, . . . or cleaned, if I was more consistent. I think it is the same with our worship of God. There are gaps. We miss out on worshiping the Lord who loves us. We miss out on learning and applying God’s Word. And we miss out on the friendship and community of the family of believers.

“We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord’s coming is getting closer.” Hebrews 10:24,25  

Do you clean your house more than once a month? How about worshiping the Lord? Are you a once a monther? 

View From the Back of the Gym

            Like many people, I determined to work out more in 2015. We have a free gym membership, so instead of walking outside I have been going to the gym.

            Just walking into the gym inspires me. There are all types of people with the common goal of exercising themselves to good health. Every age range, color, gender, body size and fitness level is represented. The fitness level of people varies depending on the time of day.

• 5:00-6:00am = the diehard athletes, dedicated in shape peeps
• 9:00am = moms with young kids (the gym daycare is open) group classes: yoga,     zumba,   unsynchronized aquatic dancing
• Noon = the lunch bunch, serious business folks on lunch break, dash and done in 45 minutes
• After work = New Years resolution peeps, teenagers, serious body builder types, committed folks using all the machines

             

            I’m with the treadmill group. Whatever time I go, I prefer the treadmill. I have done some swimming, some weight machines, a few yoga classes and one zumba class. Still, I always go back to the treadmill group. They are my tribe.

            At this gym the treadmills are lined up against the back wall, facing in towards the middle of the gym. This makes for great people watching. You can see almost everyone in the gym. The testosterone weight lifting zone, the intense stair stepping sweat-ers, the socializing weight machines peeps, the senior men circuit machine corner, and the specialized speed school sprinters. It is an awesome view of gym life!

            There are some funny sights from the back row of the gym. Here is my short list from this month:

·      A young guy with his treadmill incline set at ‘Mt Everest’ and the speed set at ‘warp’, hanging on for dear life as his size 12 Nikes slapped the tread.

·      The guy on his cell phone talking to the police about a possible fight he may or may not have been involved in

·      The time I accidently switched to the Cooking Chanel and the two guys on either side of me were so mesmerized watching my screen I didn’t dare change the channel. The three of us watched asparagus polenta for half an hour.

·      The time all the back row treadmills were taken and I had to run (ok, walk and run) on a treadmill in front of the coveted last row. There was only one man in my row of 20 treadmills. I had my ear buds in listening to a Michael Hyatt podcast, when I started hearing loud singing.  Over the gym music, and Michael Hyatt, I could hear the guy singing out loud in my row. I looked over to see Clarence the angel, from It’s A Wonderful Life, dressed in street clothes singing “That’s amore!” acapella as he walked! I looked at him and then snuck a glance behind me to the back row tread millers. Snickers and smirks looked back at me as if to say, “Sucker – you are stuck with the singer today!”

·      The time a zero percent body fat person, with a shaved head, jumped up to reach above her head to hang from a bar. She swung her legs straight up in the air to meet her hands. I thought the bars were there to hang towels on. I had no idea it was a suspended reverse sit-up apparatus. The gal’s abs looked like they were sculpted with photo shop for a super hero costume. She did 10 sets of 10 torturous reps right in front of the treadmills. It was an incredible athletic feat. I had never seen anything like it. I turned to the guy beside me to see if he was impressed. Nope. Pretending to watch basketball highlights.

            I’m sure I look equally amusing wearing my faded red Avon running shirt from 1997, which doubles as my painting shirt, and my favorite visor that my daughter refuses to be seen with me in.

            I just love the view from the back row treadmills!

            It reminds me of how different we all are, and yet God loves each of us equally. At the gym people have to earn their washboard abs with days, months and years spent on the reverse ab bars. Thankfully, we don’t have to earn God’s love. No amount of good works or spiritual workouts improve our standing with Him. He accepts us just as we are, physically, emotionally and spiritually in shape or out of shape.

“For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (Amp)

How is your view from where you are?

 

Recipe For Getting Picky Eaters to Eat Veggies

            It came as a total surprise, but I think I finally discovered the magic formula for getting my kids (and hubby!) to eat veggies for dinner, without all the usual whining and complaining.

            I know many of you have kids who were born loving salad, and prefer green vegetables over candy. But, for those whose kids are like mine, I want to share a secret I stumbled upon last night.

            My family has always been the meat and potato kind, the plainer the better. Which is really boring to cook for. Being a sanguine personality, I like to try new recipes. Having picky eaters has greatly hindered my cooking experimentation.

            The meat and potato dinners usually have the plain meat in one corner of the plate. Then separated, so nothing touches, are the potatoes, and separated again, some type of vegetable or fruit. The problem with this setup is the veggies are on full display for everyone to comment about, critique, criticize, and separate out what they don’t want.

            Last night I tried something totally different and it worked. I made ‘Mom’s-Cute-Crock- With- Hidden-Veggies-Pasta-Bowls.’ I told the kids they were Pasta Bowls.

                       The key ingredient, and it is a must – no substitutions – are these                                       incredibly cute crock bowls.

            They are probably sold everywhere, but I bought mine at Costco. They come in six fun colors, have a handle, and are just so cute. The key is the opening of the crock bowl is smaller than the belly of the bowl.

            Here is the recipe I threw together. I boiled bowtie pasta. While it cooked I made some marinara sauce. I was then inspired to throw a bunch of veggies in the sauce. So, in went diced tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, slivered carrots and half a bag of spinach. I stirred it all together. Then, I mixed the pasta and the sauce together in a large bowl.  I carefully ladled the yummy veggie pasta sauce into the crock bowls. For the two who like cheese, I topped theirs with mozzarella and melted it in the oven.

            An interesting thing happened. As I was waiting for the two crocks that were in the oven, the non-cheese laden bowl sat on the table. Usually, we wait for everyone to get to the table to pray and then eat. As it seemed like it would be a while for the others to arrive, the sans-cheese boy began to dig in and eat his. Normally, I would have stopped him to wait for everyone. But he has eating with gusto and never said a word about all the veggies. I was shocked! Didn’t he know there was at least a cup of veggies in his saucy pasta crock? No, he didn’t. He couldn’t see them because the opening was smaller and it all looked like pasta and sauce. He ate and ate and ate.

            Next the cheese lovers arrived. Who could resist the cute crocks with melted cheesy goodness on top? They ate too. Nobody complained. Nobody commented about the veggies. Crocks were devoured.

Score one for the Mom!

            I’m thinking all meals from here on will be served in these cute concealing crocks! There is no limit to the veggies that could be added and hidden, and then eaten as part of the pasta bowl.

            Here is the recipe. May you have great success in hiding vegetables for your kiddos to devour as well!

Cute-Crock-Pasta-Bowls-With-Hidden-Veggies  (aka Pasta Bowls)

1.     Buy cute crock bowls.

2.     Boil any type of pasta according to directions: penne, bowtie, gluten-free

3.     Make spaghetti sauce: homemade, store bought, or combination

4.     Sauté, or throw in raw, any veggies you have on hand: canned or fresh tomatoes, carrots, spinach, asparagus, kale, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, bell peppers

5.     Mix all together in a large bowl. Then ladle out portions into the cute crocks. Top with cheese, if desired. Melt 2 minutes in oven or microwave.

6.     Sit back and be amazed as they eat all those veggies!

              Please share in the comments if you have a healthy veggie recipe that kids love.

Parenting Isn't For Cowards

         Dr. Dobson, from Focus on the Family Ministries, says, “Parenting isn’t for cowards.” My husband and I wholeheartedly agree. We have four kids, an older daughter, an older son, and twin teenage boys.

When they were younger, the twins:

-       Had RSV at five months and were on oxygen at home for many weeks.

-       Would stand up in their cribs and pull off the wallpaper above their cribs.

-       Tore down and destroyed the mini blinds in their bedroom.

-       Locked the babysitter out of the house when they were 2 years old.

-       Stuck candy in our friend’s printer.

-       Broke one of our friend’s lamps.

-       Turned on the sprinkler system during their older brother’s first high school baseball game and the umpires had to stop the game until we could turn them off because the umpire, the players and all the fans were soaked!

         Yet, even with all this, they did not compare to how difficult it was raising our strong-willed daughter.

         The day after she was born, the nurse came into my hospital room to give us instructions. She said, “With most newborns you can hold them any way you want. Your baby, however, only wants to be held upright. She cries when you hold her any other way.” The nurse demonstrated how our baby was quiet when held upright and began to scream when she was cradled in her arms. “Your baby already knows what she wants,” she said.

         Little did we know how prophetic her statement was. Our daughter challenged us from an early age, about almost everything.

         When she was 15 months old she started throwing a fit every time we put on her socks and shoes. She would lay on the floor crying and screaming and then throw her shoes off. She would fight against me when I tried to put them back on. She would cry and scream something I could not understand. I asked her what was wrong and she would cry back these unintelligible words. When I was finally able to decipher what she was saying, I didn’t know what it meant. She kept screaming, “On the wrong!”  What was on the wrong? Her shoes?  I told her they were not on the wrong foot. They were correct. With her shoes off, she would pick and pull at her socks as if there was a sticker or something sharp in them. I would take off her socks, turn them inside out and feel inside them. Nothing. Were they too tight? I could not figure out what was wrong.

         As she sat pulling at her socks, her Dad eventually understood. With great patience, he bent down and adjusted the seam on her socks so it lined up straight across her small toes. Finally, she was quiet.

         “What? She was that bugged and agitated by the tiny 1 ½ inch seam that went across her toes? Who ever heard of such a thing? How could that be something to be so bugged about?”  I asked.

Her Dad spoke up, “It is a thing. It bugs me if the seam on my sock is not lined up correctly, either.”

WHAT?!

         Thankfully, after about four months of “On the wrong!” and us repeatedly adjusting her socks, she was able to put them on herself and adjust the seam to her satisfaction. It was a good thing she was incredibly cute, and despite everything, we loved her immensely.

         Isn’t this how we are sometimes? We become believers and commit our life to follow Christ, only we already know what we want. We want to do things our own way.

         We disregard the Bible, His love letter to us. He knows what is best for us, and tells us His plan for our life. Yet, we buck and fight Him about doing things His way.

         We think His Word is “on the wrong” and our way is the right way for us. God could not possibly know what is best for us. Our situation is unique. It is complicated. It doesn’t completely fit into one of God’s ‘Top Ten Rules,’ so therefore none of His Word applies to us.

         We struggle against our Heavenly Father and we wonder why we don’t have peace. It is not until we give up fighting for our way, and let Him truly lead us as Lord of our life, that we have peace. Blessed peace.

“Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.”  John 14:21

Lord, cause me to stop struggling against You and choose 

to do things Your way.

 PS. Apparently, she was not the only one, as they now sell 'Seamless Sensitivity Socks.' My daughter would have loved them!