Day 2 of spring cleaning was right on schedule. I got up and started right in on my housekeeping chores and spring cleaning. While I was cleaning out one of my kitchen cabinet and listening to the washer running...I realized that it really didn't matter how long my cleaning takes...it is actually enjoying the process while knowing the results will come. Then it occurred to me that this is a truth that can and should be applied to everything I do. Cleaning, cleansing, homeschooling, marriage, parenting, painting, gardening, crafting, working, driving...you name it. For me...this was a profound realization. God is with me everyday, in every way, for my benefit, but more so for His Glory. If I would just sit back and enjoy the process instead of getting overwhelmed with the to-do list...the jobs will get done; the results will be His and He will be glorified! FREEDOM!!
Anyway, my spring cleaning is continuing. I did two more cabinets...
My baking cabinet is now free from sticky honey and baking sugar residues... I could not believe how many items in this cabinet were way out of date. Some by three years!!! I have good intentions to do all this baking and when I don't get around to it I forget what it was that I was going to bake and hence, outdated products.
Under my sink is going to change...I am going to buy a heavy duty shelf rack to go into my laundry room, so many of the items here will be moved there. With sequestration, I am planning to make all my cleaners...so the look of things will change. I am also planning to buy a smaller trash can and put it under here. This will make more room in my kitchen.
So, one third of my kitchen is done! Yippee!!
I was able to do a couple loads of laundry, vacuum the front of the house, homeschool my son and make a delicious soup for supper.
This is Sausage and Potato Soup. It is relatively easy to make and my husband gave it an 8! When I try something new I have him rate it on a scale from 1-10. If it is a 7 or above I put the recipe in my notebook for remake. If it is 1-6..I usually don't make it again. No sense in wasting my time for a meal that no one really likes. Anyway, here is the recipe.
Ingredients:
-3 large russet potatoes-diced to 1 inch
-2 cloves of garlic-diced smaller that 1 inch (I used 4)
-1 onion-diced
-1 cup of half and half or heavy whipping cream or milk
-3-4 slices of bacon fried crispy, cooled and crumbled
-1 pound of sausage (any sausage will do)
-2 cups of chicken broth or bouillon cubes
-kale-chopped about 3-4 ounces worth
Directions:
-wash and dice veggies
-put veggies, broth and 4 cups of water on stove, simmer for about 20 minutes (or until potatoes are done)
-while all that is simmering, in a heavy skillet fry bacon until it is very crispy, cool and crumble....set aside.
-after the bacon is done-fry up the sausage until done.
-back to the simmering potato pot: when your potatoes are done, grab your potato masher and mash about 1/2 to 3/4 of the potatoes. Leave some chunks-this will make a chunky soup base.
-add the bacon, sausage and whipping cream
-simmer until everything is nice and hot
-serve
Like I said this was delicious. I am not a pepper fan, but adding just a little pepper to my bowl of soup was perfection! Let me know if you try this recipe and if you tweaked it in anyway!
So, now on to the juicing...I failed! I know that after two days--detox had already started. When I detox I get extremely tired. I mean so sluggish that walking is hard. This was beginning--I NEED to spring clean my house. This is not only for my family's well being, but also for my mental, emotional and spiritual health. To quote Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility... “Give me an occupation, Miss Dashwood, or I shall run mad.” I definitely know how this feels! I have to do this, therefore, I am putting off my heavy juicing until later. I am planning on juicing one meal a day though. I will gradually increase this when my spring cleaning decreases. So---there it is.
Yesterday was so productive! I cannot wait to what is done today!
\o/
I have been diligently working since my son and I finished our schooling lessons for the day. It actually feels good to have started the most dreaded job of spring cleaning. I could not have put this off any longer...so I am grateful to be off and cleaning....
Since, my knee is still giving some trouble and this causes my back to tire easily, my wonderful son helped with the bottom shelves and the very top shelf where I started cleaning. That was a tremendous help to me. I did manage to take a short reading break and rest my knee for a bit. Soon I was back up and cleaning coffee pots, cookie jars and tossing out anything and everything that I do not need nor want. I am filling up the recycling bin with plastics that I am not going to use anymore. Most, if not all, are being replaced as I get the money...
There has also been three loads of laundry done today. I will finish the rest tomorrow. I am gettin' kinda tuckered out...
Supper is an easy one tonight. Chili Mac, sliced pineapples and buttered bread. That is what my guys are having. I will be juicing up carrots, oranges, kale and a tomato. Yum! I would like to be able to do this Juicing for Jesus for the full 60 days, but I am relying on the LORD to direct me. I cannot say that I have not tasted a piece of macaroni, because I did... :(
Well, here are the results of my efforts today in my kitchen.
Everything is clean and in it's place. The kitchen is going to take me awhile to complete. Mainly because of time taken to school my son, but there are two other reasons. #1-my leg and #2-everything is really dirty! So, I want to do it right. After everything is cleaned I am going to paint it! That will really help brighten things up!
Well, supper is on the stove and I want to feed my family, finish the last load of laundry for today and then rest for the remainder of the evening.
Sure wish it was warmer outside...I would sit out in the bright sunshine and soak up some Vitamin D! Soon...I hope.
Today is Day 1! Day 1 of what you may ask...well, I will tell you.
I am truly starting my spring cleaning. The kitchen is going to be the first room. I need to get my oven fixed and I cannot allow anyone to see how I have let things go! Well, anyone that is going to come in and work on my dirty stove, on my dirty floor and in my dirty kitchen. I don't mind posting a picture here...because you are not going to get up close and personal and I am not going to post up close and personal pictures of my sludge... But, you will get the idea of what I am up against.
You can get an idea from this picture that I have not been cleaning as I should. I have always said it is easier to clean a clean house than to clean a dirty one. It amazes me how OCD I used to be about my home and then menopause hit, as well as, problems with my daughter and out went the nice, organized, neat and clean home that was the normal for me and my family. I just have to get things cleaned and dejunked! This is not glorifying my LORD nor is it good for my family. So, today is Day 1 of spring cleaning! (I even gave up coffee time with a dear friend this morning...but I am going to persevere!)
The next item on the Day 1 list is....Juicing for Jesus!!! Yes, ladies, I am beginning a juice fast. I have had this on my heart for about a year now. I have felt the need to draw nearer to my God and King. There are several scenerios playing out in my life and I cannot handle them on my own. I need JESUS!!!
One of the scenerios is of course my weight. It must come off for my health's sake. I have injured my knee and I cannot Zumba for the time being, so this juicing fast is going to help with this...I pray. I got the idea from "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead". A film by Joe Cross that I watched on Hulu.com. I am a follower of Jesus so I am fasting for His answers, but this fast has extreme health benefits, too.
Another reason I am fasting is for God's grace and protection during the furloughs my husband has to take due to Sequestration. My husband is a federal employee, so 20% of his income has to be cut by federal order. Our belts are already tight, but God will provide and I need Him to see, through this fast, that I am going to rely on Him and His grace and mercy throughout this trial.
My son and his education and future is another reason for my being led to fast. He is really not learning in our homeschool...The way I think he should. So, I am fasting for God to show me how to train up my son for His Glory and Seth's best interests. I need to know how to teach him, what to teach him, how to encourage him and how to prepare him for a life without mom and dad. Seth is a slow learner with learning disablities. I want the very best for him and at the throne room of grace is where I will find the answers for my son. I have so many people telling me what to do that my head is clouded. So, this fast will clear my head, heart and ears..."Speak Lord, your servant listens."
Yet another scenerio that needs much prayer concerns my daughter...I don't think I need to go into much detail here, but my prayer is that she (and her husband) will truly live for God and God alone. This would take so much of the stress and strain of life off them and both could have a productive life for His Glory!!!
My grandson is next! PROTECTION, PROTECTION, PROTECTION!!!! I feel as though I am the only family member that honestly prays for this little boy. I love him so much and I just have to storm the gates of Heaven for his sake, too.
There are other areas that I will be praying about as well, Israel, prophecy fulfillment and other requests as they come up.
So this is a big Day 1.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
My dearest daughter,
I was sitting in Starbucks this afternoon with your brother and two of his friends. We had just finished with a field trip to the MacArthur Memorial Museum. The girls wanted a frappe and I thought it would be a sweet end to our stressful outing. (You know I have always said that education is wasted on the young...)
As I was sitting at a little table across from the three reluctant scholars-my thoughts were about you, my dear daughter. I was reminiscing about the fact that you were the one who introduced me to Starbucks. I also remembered that you had to be the one who ordered for me because I didn't know the Starbucks lingo. You rattled off the orders like it was your first language.......
I was remembering how happy you were then. All smiles and conversation. All filled with joy and song. All girlie and classy at the same time. Make up on, dressed nicely, smelling divine.......
What happened to my young, beautiful, cultured, homeschooled, Bible believing daughter? Where did she go?
It pains me that just about every choice you have made since you were 20 has been made without God factored in anywhere. You were raised on the Rock! Why are you opting for sinking sand?
You once told me that I taught you about sin...I just didn't teach you how much sin was out in the world. Huh? Everywhere we turned I pointed out sin and its consequences; I taught you to go to God's Word to do battle against it! You had it memorized--remember?
I did prepare you for life--a life for serving God--a life with God! I taught you God first...everything else second. I may not have modeled it to perfection, but you always knew that I began with and ended up with God. Sometimes in the middle I got twisted around, but eventually I found my way back and stayed under His Wing. You witnesses this! You saw the struggles AND the victories! Have you forgotten?!
Now, you have turned away from God. Oh, the pain this brings...not only to me...not only to you, but to our Heavenly Father! This actually concerns me more than your poor financial status or your cutting yourself. Leaving the God of the Universe..Your Creator and King!?!
I know that God still loves you! He has loved you from eternity past, present and future! Not because you can feel it, but because His Word declares it! Page by page, chapter by chapter, word for word. He loves you!! I love you, too!
Even though I cannot open our home to you at this time...
Even though I cannot rescue you at this time....I still love you! This decision was not made lightly. Your daddy and I fasted (quite involuntarily...we were so upset that we had to fast or throw up!) and prayed about this decision. We went to two prayer meetings. Daddy went to the men's prayer meeting and I went to the Deborah group. We decided that the answer we got from the LORD from the prayer meetings was going to be what we do.
Not one lady in the Deborah group said to allow you home. Not one man in the Men's group said to allow you home. The overwhelming consciences was to let God work. We are not your rescuers. We can not bail you out of your troubles. You must go to God and God alone. He is your answer. He is your break. He is your respite. He is your deliverer!
With all this in my mind and in my heart...I am declaring that I love you and I am still your mother! You can run from God, but for each step away from Him...I am going to pray harder! I am going to pray like there is no tomorrow! I am standing in the gap--for you, my dear one! God will hear the prayers of this saint!
The longer you strive to stay away from God...the harder He is going to pound you! He knows the tool to use to mold you into His image. You cannot run! You cannot hide! No matter how deep you fall in the pit that you keep digging...God is going to be there!
The more you curse God...the more I am going to praise Him! I am going to praise Him for both of us! I ate for two and can certainly praise for two! Praise, as you know, is a weapon of Heaven! No earthly weapon formed against us can stand! I am breaking out the big guns! I am putting the Praise Band out in front of the army that I am calling down for you!
Prayer and Praise is all I can do for you right now, but it will be enough! Do not under estimate the power of P2! We are to pray without ceasing! God loves us to pray His Word! Get ready for it! God inhabits the praise of His people! Get ready for it! God is not going to let you go! He cannot! You are engraved into the palm of His Hand!
So...my dear...get ready...God will get you through this! I am going to remind Him everyday...several times a day...that He has a daughter in you and He needs to take care of you and bring you back into the fold. You had better brace yourself because when God moves EVERYTHING SHAKES!!!!
Let me warn you....It will get worse before it gets better, unless, God chooses a Damascus Road Conversion. I know that He does this at times, but you have already been on this particular highway to Hell for 5+ years...so I mean it...you had better grab on to something solid (like the Rock of Ages...the Chief Cornerstone, for instance) and hang on...
A mother's prayer is powerful!
I am loving you,
Momma
I woke up at 4:11 this morning in a funk. It amazes me that satan seems to attack me when I am not quite awake, bored or just had a disturbing phone call from my daughter, all of which has occurred within the last 12 hours. Sigh....So this is an entry for me...a spiritual pep rally if you will. Please bare with me while I get my Jesus Girl armour on.
I love the Blue Letter Bible website. It has everything from commentaries to women's sources, but I like the devotionals. This is today's, it is from Proverbs 8:35. "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD." Here is the devotional thought on this verse.
"Whatever wisdom exists finds its identity in the person and being of Christ
Himself. Seek this wisdom and thereby seek out the Lord of our rest. In Him
alone lies all life and love and joy and meaning. Turn to Him and embrace true
wisdom! Turn to Him and be comforted with the promise of eternal Sabbath! In
Christ alone stands our hope!"
What has my goat this morning? Here is my list:
I arose from my bed this morning dizzy...inner ear.
I have a daughter that is running a muck in New Jersey.
I have a son who is 15 can barely read and maybe on the third grade level. He informed me last night that he wants to go to a Christian school because he wants friends.
I cannot afford a Christian school!
My husband wants to retire, but we cannot afford it. He is 67 and has been working for 46 years at NNSY and we cannot afford it?
His car is on its last wheel.
The house needs decluttering and painting and I know that all this will be done by me and me alone.
The oven has stopped working.
The over-the-oven hood lights have stopped working.
The sprayer at the kitchen sink has been disconnected for years and does not work.
The bathroom ceiling is peeling and in bad need of work.
The house exterior needs a new roof, mold removal and repainting--along with new gutters.
My right leg is in pain.
My right underarm has an enlargement.
I have a lump in the right side of my sternum.
My asthma is never ending.
I am at least 100 pounds over weight.
This is just a list of things I am willing to talk about.
BUT! satan! I have found Jesus and according to His Word--I have found life and favor! So thank you so very much for reminding me that I live in a sin cursed and fallen world! Thank you for reminding me that I am just a traveler through this world that you are trying to destroy! Thank you for reminding me that this is NOT my home! Thank you for reminding me that I do indeed need a Saviour no matter what time of day or night it is! Thank you for reminding me that I need my Jesus no matter what day of the week it is!
You, satan, can break everything in this house. You, satan, can torment everyone in this house. You, satan, can probably afflict me with all kinds of pain and illness. BUT! You have NO dominion over my SOUL....YOU HAVE LOST!! I do not care what it looks like!! I do not care what it feels like!! I do not care what it sounds like!! YOU HAVE LOST!!!
You, the enemy of my soul, have NO dominion here at the Beale Bungalow! You, the enemy of my family, have NO dominion with any of my walking DNA or their spouses. You, the enemy of my peace, have NO dominion over anything! PERIOD! END OF DISCUSSION!
I have all the promises of God, in the name of Jesus, by the power and seal of the Holy Spirit. You cannot defeat Them! If God be for us, who can be against us! Romans 8:31b! Written by Paul! of whom you tried to destroy too! and did NOT succeed!
You have tried to manipulate me to be filled with the poisons of anger, bitterness and hatred through every possible means and persons in my life here on this terrestrial ball, but YOU HAVE FAILED!! You have no dominion, right, or authority with anything that concerns me or mine, because it is all Gods' anyway!
I am not perfect, but my God is! I do not live perfectly, but my Jesus did! I have no power of my own, but the Holy Spirit does! Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!
I have life and favor in Christ and Christ Alone! Go fight it out with Him and leave me alone! The battle is His! The victory is His! The glory is His! and guess what satan...I AM HIS!
In His Name,
Amen
This was my view outside my living room window this morning. It was beautiful, peaceful and quiet. The air was crisp and carried the sounds of birds coming and going from their nests in our holly bushes. This is what I call a winter morning. :)
We, in the Hampton Roads area, do not see snow often. I do believe we have a NO SNOW ZONE sign stamped on us somewhere in heaven. Sigh...so when we do get snow...Yippee!!! Just about everyone is excited, except for my husband and one elder at my church. Oh well, God is in control and He heard a great deal many more prayers for snow than not. TeeHee....
My sore leg was acting up this morning. Sometimes I think it is going to bend the wrong way and this causes not only physical pain, but a bit of the emotional 'what if?' kind of pain. I stayed off of it this morning and it seems to be doing better this afternoon. I think that might have something to do with the ibuprofen I took and the TED I am wearing, but all is well.
I looked around the Beale Bungalow this morning and became discouraged. It was a mess! I worked all week just to have it all fall apart on the weekend? No...no...no...I don't think so. Once my leg was feeling better I started with our bedroom and made the bed, put away all the laundry and made it look nice and tidy.
Next was the laundry in the computer room. It is funny that I seem to be the only one who knows how to fold socks, undershirts and panties. It took all of 10 minutes and no time to put them away at all. The computer room is still a sight because that is where everything is going to be sorted and either given away, thrown out or repurposed. It will be the final room completely done.
After the living room and the dining room where straightened I tackled the kitchen. It sure looks much better, and I am happy with the results. The laundry room followed--more laundry put away and everything tidied up. The bathroom got a good scrubbing. I am glad that job is over! :)
The floors were vacuumed, porches swept, candles lit and now my guys are in from their outside chores and play enjoying a nice neat warm home. This makes me very content...
The sky has opened up a few times today and allowed the sun to peek through...I wander if I have opened up and allowed the Son to peek through my life today. I must confess...other than a couple of blogs mentioning God this morning...my answer would have to be no. I know what I will be doing when I finish here. :) I know that God will be just as excited for me to spend time with Him in the afternoon as He would in the morning. I talk with Him all the time, but spending time in His Word...that I have not done as of yet. Like I said...I know what I will be doing when I finish here.
So far, this has been a very nice wintery Saturday...I pray that you are having the same kind of day.
Sharon
The sky has been a kaleidoscope of weather patterns totally bathed in frigid temperatures today. There has been an alternating of deep grayness to vivid whiteness to a crisp bright yellow sunshine that only occurs in the months of winter. Snowflurries have been witnessed throughout the day and I believe snow has been forecasted for tonight. All of these changes have made me extremely thankful for the warm cluttered bungalow that I call "home".
I have not done but so much today. My leg is improving, but it does require me to remain off of it for long periods of time. Aspercreme and Ibuprophen are helping, so are the ice packs, but that painful pulling remains. No Zumba for me tonight. Sigh...I do enjoy it so....
Anyway, I have a few minutes to jot down my thoughts before I go through the house and do my final pick up and put away before my husband comes home. I like to do this so he does not come home to chaos....which it is not....but neatness seems to warm his soul and it is a small thing I can do for him on a daily bases. I believe it gives him a sense of security, as well as, to our son and myself.
Today, I have been out of sorts. I woke up a 3 a.m. bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to get busy. Sigh...hormones I suppose. Laundry, straightening the house, cleaning off the diningroom table, straightening the kitchen and a few other little chores were done before 5 a.m. when my husband got up. When he left for work I started getting sleepy so I went back to bed. I don't think I should have done this...
I went down to a friend's house to have a chat before schooling lessons were started. Upon my return...I noticed that my teenage son was not awake. Sigh...schooling was going to be difficult today, I thought, and I was right. When my son's routine is messed up he does not do well...and true to form....today was one of those days. Plus, me having to lie down and keep my leg straight didn't help the rhythm of the day. :( We did manage to get some schooling lessons done, but not much. Tomorrow morning will be quite busy.
I ended up napping some this afternoon and now I feel wonderful. Ready to take on the rest of the day.
Supper is in the crockpot. It is a recipe that I found years ago on Crystal Miller's blog.
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/
She has some really good and healthy recipes along with all the wonderful news of her lovely family. I might post the recipe with a picture of our meal this evening. It's name escapes me at the moment, but it is a favorite around the Beale Bungalow.
Well, it is time to tidy up and get ready for my husband to come home. :)
Sharon
