Category Archives: Homemaking

What I’ve Learned from Wise Mothers

14 Sunday Apr 2013

Posted by in Changing the next generation, Homemaking, not-to-do list, Sticking through tough times, Strong families, Thoughts and Prayers

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mother lifting child
We all want to leave a legacy of wisdom and faith to our families but how do we accomplish that? One moment at a time.

Some families are full of good “fruit” and should be emulated. If you know of a family whose children have embraced their parents values, who are joyful and confident and secure, be sure to watch and learn from the woman who is mothering those children!

Here are some bits of wisdom I have learned from other women over the years;

images silhouette of children swinging

*Let your husband be a man and parent like one. He may be more matter-of-fact and not take the time to explain things like you do but his influence is essential in the life of your child and shows forth the heart of God in a different way than you do.

*Sometimes being a very involved mother means stepping back and allowing your child to experience consequences. Ask the Lord for wisdom for the right timing. A teen who keeps friends waiting may have to be left behind on an important day. A younger child may need to learn that leaving a favorite toy out in the rain ruins the toy and that it doesn’t get replaced. Look for these moments and choose to allow your child to feel uncomfortable under your guiding hand.

*Each stage of childhood and development is different. Even with a large family it is easy to lose touch with the changes your child is growing through. Find a good book full of trusted advice and refer to it again and again in order to fortify yourself for the next stage of life. Rejoice and be glad in the uniqueness of God’s creation in the life of a child.

*Wise mothers learn self-control so that they can act instead of react to all the ups and downs of raising children. It is worth the hard work of developing your own character in order to be a better mother.

*Pray for wisdom so that you can determine if your child just made a childish mistake or if he refused to listen and obey. You do not want to overlook sin but you also don’t want to overreact to childish mistakes.

*Joyful children have parents who choose to be joyful even through the ups and downs of life. Choose to be a smiling mother!
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*Don’t forget what it was like to be a child.

*You are the best mother for your child. Wise mothers know that no matter how hard parenting can get, they were meant to be the mother of their child. Embrace this truth.

Pray! The God of grace will give you wisdom. He has entrusted to you an eternal soul…will He not gently lead you?

Resurrection Eggs; Teach Your Children the Meaning of Easter

23 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Crafts, Easter, Fun and Easy ways to Celebrate, Holiday, Holy Bible, last minute meals, Recipes

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Yes, I’ll admit it. I am together putting these eggs at the last minute because Easter caught me by surprise. I just wasn’t paying attention to the calendar….but, isn’t the motto of every mother,”Better late than never?”

After talking to my seven year old several days ago, I realized that he really doesn’t know the Easter story so these eggs may remedy that a bit. I am shamelessly taking advantage of our eleven year old and using her natural “take charge” attitude to put these together. As she collects the items, copies the verses and stuffs the eggs, she’ll be reviewing the Easter story at the same time.

We’ll be doubling up on the eggs and doing two per day (instead of one per day) because I’m starting five days before Easter. Although my goal is to get through them all by Sunday, it’s not the end of the world if we are still hiding and finding Resurrection eggs a week or two from now. When I remember that my goal is to talk about Jesus and His victory on the cross, I feel less pressure to complete them in within a certain time frame. If these take a while, we’re just extending the blessing!

I’m also just using items around the house and substituting as necessary.

Young children just love these eggs! I have found Dollar stores to be the best place to get them.

First Egg (which I will skip since we just had Palm Sunday and reviewed what it was all about)
Message: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.
Passage: Matthew 21:1-11
Item:piece of palm branch or anything that resembles a small palm branch leaf

Second Egg:
Message: Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.
Passage: John 12:2-8
Item: small perfume sample, cloth with perfume, or a piece of cotton with cologne on it

Third Egg:
Message: Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples.
Passage: Matthew 26:17-19
Item: piece of Chex cereal; or take clay and make a small bread-like shape

Fourth Egg:
Message: Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.
Passage: Matthew 27:3
Item: 3 dimes or plastic “silver” money

Fifth Egg:
Message: Jesus carried His own cross.
Passage: John 19:17
Item: small plastic cross or use toothpicks/popsicle sticks cut and glued in a cross form

Sixth Egg:
Message: Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head.
Passage: John 19:2
Item: small thorny branch or a large thorn all by itself

Seventh Egg:
Message: Soldiers parted Jesus’ garments and cast lots for His coat.
Passage: John 19:23
Item: swatch of burlap and a nail (or miniature dice)
Item: 7 or 8 whole cloves, or other whole spices

Eighth Egg:
Message: Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.
Passage: John 19:18,37 & John 20:25-29
Item: a nail

Nineth Egg:
Message: They gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.
Passage: Matthew 27:34
Item: a small sponge

Tenth Egg:
Message: Spices to prepare Jesus for burial.
Passage: John 19:40

Eleventh Egg:
Message: The stone covering Jesus’ tomb was rolled away.
Passage: John 20:1
Item: a small rock

Twelveth Egg:
Message: The napkin around Jesus’ head was lying separately from His linen cloths. He was not there. He has
risen!
Passage: John 20:6-7
Item: a scrap of linen-type fabric

Celebrate Easter with these simple ideas as well!

Do you do anything to make Easter special? Please share your ideas with us!

One of Those days

09 Saturday Mar 2013

Posted by in Homemaking, Humor, Inspirational Mama, Sticking through tough times, Strong families, Thoughts and Prayers

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Snapshot_20120904_3

The day started early and, since I was out of bed and feeling pretty perky early in the morning, the day seemed to be off to a good start. A facebook message from our eldest daughter told me she was heading over the snowy mountain pass from the furthest corner of Washington state. I prayed for her.

My husband has had an infected tooth for several days now and he has been a real bear…a bit impatient. While he calls and yells at the poor dental receptionist, telling her that he needs to get an appointment, “NOW”…I find the missing math book for the seven-year old, remind the eleven-year-old that her speech is due and double-check that the teen boys are gainfully busy with something that looks academic.

STUFF AND THINGS 165

I ignore the Spanish textbook that I need to study for the quiz tomorrow, make sure the dishes are loaded, hug the still-in-pain-and-not-being-very-polite husband and go out the door with the nineteen-year-old daughter.

We join new friends at Oh So Sweet, a nice little bistro restaurant that has some amazing salads. I order a Beatnik; beets covered by a bed of greens, pine nuts, feta, tiny slices of Jicama and slathered with the house dressing. I figure I get a full months worth of antioxidants in one meal and enjoy it to boot! Running off to fun little restaurants in the middle of the day is not usually on my agenda so I justify it by telling myself I am eating such healthy food.

After lots of wonderful girl talk with a little doctrine thrown in, my new friend and her daughters say goodbye.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig for two hours of junior speech taught in my home. While I teach in the basement, our 15-year-old son practices upstairs on his duo speech in preparation for an upcoming tournament in Idaho. His duo partner arrives and there is the sound of thumping feet and loud teenage voices overhead. As I struggle to keep the ten students downstairs from being distracted by the noise upstairs, I remind myself that we are hearing the sound of creative learning :-) .patrick with tattoo

After class, second eldest daughter who lives away from home calls asking advice for a bad sinus infection. I tell her the protocol for using echinacea/goldenseal and, yes, it tastes like dirt but it knocks it out better than any antibiotic. Stick with it, girl!

Husband comes in the door. He has found an extremely competent dentist who did the quickest root canal known to man on his tooth! While waiting to get into the dentist he called the previous dentists receptionist and apologized. He also apologizes to me and the kids.

It is late afternoon and I begin the laborious effort of making my mind focus on Spanish. It is hard. It is March and my mind wants to lay in the sun and listen to ocean waves some place balmy…preferably Hawaii. I take this class with our 17-year-old and it makes my brain hurt. While I work on Spanish, seven-year-old son finishes his math work. P1020471abby on books

Nothing looks appealing for dinner and I have waited until the end of the day to think about it(not a good strategy). We finally decide what to have and husband has to run to the store. Dinner will be late.

The day is sinking to a close, a day full of learning, friendship, frustration, anger and forgiveness. It has been a good day.DSCF1864

Three Unseen Benefits of a Wise Mother at Home (a Repost)

04 Monday Mar 2013

Posted by in becoming a stay at home mom, Changing the next generation, Homemaking, Inspirational Mama, Sticking through tough times, Strong families, Thoughts and Prayers

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We’ve all read those intricate financial compilations by economic experts trying to prove that a homemaker really does have financial value. Because they can put a dollar amount on what a woman does in the home, they clap themselves on the back and point out that a homemaker is not really a parasite…she is worth something! She contributes!

Well, I’ve put down my box of chocolates, clambered off of my couch, turned off my soap operas and done a little thinking… *DING!* (thinking!) and I have come up with quite a few instances of how a woman in the home benefits her family and the world at large.

These are all hidden benefits of a wise woman at home and they are worth far more than money. There are so many benefits to having a wise, loving woman watching and caring for her family that I am only listing three here. Please leave a comment and share the ways that you benefit your family!

1. She pays attention. She walks by bedroom doors and listens to her preschoolers arguing and decides it’s a good time to talk to them about kindness, forgiveness and doing the right thing. She notices her discouraged teen and prayerfully waits for the right moment to find out what is going on in his life.

She watches, protects and builds.

2. She discerns…areas of weakness in her children that need to be strengthened such as poor work habits or sinful attitudes.
She takes the time to address those areas as well as bring them to her husband’s attention and to pray over them.

She is also quick to discern areas of growth when her child does what is right. She encourages and applauds. Her family feels loved and blessed because, in this huge world of ours, there is someone who loves them enough to pay attention!

3. She prepares. She knows that life is full of good times and bad so she leaves enough time and energy in her day to address the hard issues in life. She understands that she is building her marriage by guarding her schedule so she is not all “used up” when her husband spends time with her. She leaves a little extra space in her life… because life happens and somebody has to deal with it!

Read the interesting responses to this post here.

What do you think about this list? What would you add?

Decluttering Starts in Your Brain (a repost)

28 Thursday Feb 2013

Posted by in Cleaning, Decluttering, Guest Post, Homemaking, Humor, Inspirational Mama, Practical Help

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(and other wise and mysterious truths you didn’t know you needed to hear).
women_talking over ironing board
Are you ready to begin taking dominion over your “stuff?” I’ve written a guest post over at The Grocery Shrink blog and I invite you to visit and read it here.

Angela says some very nice things about me on her blog and I appreciate her kind words but I do want to make a correction. I have not spent most of my life working for Wycliffe Bible Translators in Bible translation. My husband and I were members of Wycliffe Bible Translators and worked in the technical support side which is called JAARS.

Join me as I help you wade through the overwhelming mess that all of us face at one time or another in our homes. It’s time to create a peaceful and restful space in our homes!

Ten Traits of Highly Successful People

22 Friday Feb 2013

Posted by in becoming a stay at home mom, Changing the next generation, Goal Setting, Homemaking, Inspirational Mama, Practical Help, Strong families

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imagesI am a wife and mother and I also speak and teach and write. I like studying what successful people have in common because I want to learn from them.
Dr. Humbert observed ten traits that highly successful people have in common. Do you agree with these? Do you have anything to add? Are these applicable to wives and mothers?

They work hard! Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.

They are incredibly curious and eager to learn. They study, ask questions and read—constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!

They network. They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co- workers and bartenders. They don’t have to be “the life of the party,” in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a Rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.

They work on themselves and never quit! While the “over-night wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!33jrck1

They are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, “Why not?” They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, “I’ve got it!” They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!

They are self-reliant and take responsibility. Incredibly successful people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on.…Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.

They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective. Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.

Extremely successful people live in the present moment. They know that “Now” is the only time they can control. They have a “gift” for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don’t waste time, they use it!

They “look over the horizon” to see the future. They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!

Repeatedly successful people respond instantly! When an investment isn’t working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond.retrowife2

These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now!

Dr. Philip E. Humbert

Hannah Jane’s Fresh Apple Salsa

27 Sunday Jan 2013

Posted by in healthy and quick recipes, Homemaking, last minute meals, Practical Help, Recipes

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I can remember when salsa meant a tomato-based, chili enriched, onion and cilantro-adorned accompaniment to a Mexican meal. My husband and I are from the great state of New Mexico (and, yes, it is a state…check the map) and he actually hails from the chili capital of the world; the Hatch valley. So there!

Given our background, you may understand our aversion to the plagiarism of the word “salsa” for any kind of chopped, mixed fresh fruit or vegetable. This is a California-chefy trend and out in the wilds of New Mexico we used to shoot people for that sort of thing.

Time, however, marches on and I have resigned myself to the fact that foodies have misappropriated the term salsa and that we are never going to be able to restore it to its rightful place amidst the chili and bean fields of the Southwest.P1010883

The other night, our nineteen year old created an enchilada casserole with some leftover chili and beans from our recent speech and debate tournament. The casserole was good but the simple apple salsa that she created to go with it was fabulous. Hannah is someone who craves fresh fruits and vegetables and this particular dish added a wonderful light flair to a heavy dish.

Hannah Jane’s Fresh Apple Salsa

1 red apple ( all diced)
1/2 red onion
1/2 cucumber
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 yellow bell pepper
1 carrot

1/2 orange
1/2 lime
pinch of salt
pinch of pepper

cilantro (optional)
(this served seven)

As I reached for the dish for a second time I heard my own voice asking for the apple salsa and (I’ll admit) I didn’t even have a twinge of conscience….it’s that good.

The picture is a bit dim so don’t be fooled. This salsa is the perfect cheerer-upper on a gray January evening.

Need Help Cleaning the Kitchen and the Bathroom? This E-book will Help!

25 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by in Book Review, Books, Changing the next generation, Cleaning, Homemaking, Practical Help

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viewer Helping Hands at home

Last year I rediscovered Lorrie Flem and her ministry to women. Lorrie has a heart for encouraging and equipping women to be the best they can be for Jesus Christ and their loved ones. Lorrie publishes an excellent digital magazine called Eternal Encouragement. I like the way she thinks and writes (I have yet to hear her speak but look forward to it). I am also impressed with her practical tips. This lady knows how to get things done and how to help other women do it to!

So, this year I signed up as part of her review crew and was thrilled to receive my first product of Lorrie’s for review. Helping Hands at Home is a practical e-book for moms who want to carefully and thoughtfully teach their children crucial household skills. I was also thrilled to see that you-all can receive the book for a mere .99 cents. And, let me tell you, it is well worth a dollar!
viewer Helping Hands at home

I’ve been cleaning bathrooms (we have three) and kitchens (we have one small one for our large family) for many years now and thought I had read every “how to” book on cleaning there is. Lorrie outlines in her little e-book, not only detailed cleaning instructions but, also, how to teach your children to clean and to clean well! I love it.

She emphasizes that attitude is a key component of training our children. If we talk about cleaning in a negative way we aren’t going to be very motivating. She also gives some helpful pointers for motivating our children to clean, especially the bathroom. For example, the bathroom is the smallest room in the house and (usually) has far fewer items which need to be picked up and taken back to where they belong! This makes it one of the easier rooms to clean.

Lorrie also shares how to train your children; first they watch YOU clean, then they HELP you clean, then you help THEM clean and, finally, you watch them clean all by themselves!

How many of us skip those steps in our hurry to get our children to do their chores? I certainly have. Reading this e-book has motivated this mamma to get on the stick and start some serious (but motivational!) training of my children!

To buy the ebook please here.
To subscribe to Eternal Encouragement magazine click here.

I received a copy of this e-book for review purposes only.

Aftermath

27 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in Cleaning, Homemaking

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messy christmas
The consequences of a rioteous celebration is a mess. A family of ten (with one deeply missed dear one far away in Korea) leaves a bomb of wrapping paper and coffee cups in its wake. Oh, how messy is the aftermath of a Christmas day celebration!

Thankfully, no one is ill in our house this season (!) so we all have the energy to pitch in and clean up.

We have a deadline since the grandmother arrives tomorrow to enjoy a late Christmas dinner with us. Deadlines
are good!

I begin our clean-up efforts by moving piles of unwrapped gifts out of the living room and into the bedrooms. Only board games are left out in a neat pile by the Christmas tree. Then, the living room floor is cleared of wrapping paper, a cheery fire is lit by our newest fire starter (the seven year old who is proud of his new skill) and the carpet is vacuumed.

Next, the kitchen is tackled and scrubbed which actually takes much less time than originally predicted, especially with two parents reminded their offspring of the need for everyone to pitch in!

The table is set for dinner by one daughter, another begins making a salad and I throw a load of laundry in the wash.

Soon enough, we will be back to the routine of school and work and commitments. Now, we enjoy the sound of bickering over card games, the smell the fire in the fireplace and seeing wet snow on black trees through our window.

The house will be messy again in a few hours but that’s because our house if full of people, full of life.

You might want to read my thoughts from last year on Christmas Chaos.

A mother of 12 shares what she does the week after Christmas. I will be doing many of the same things in the next two weeks. I enjoy this time of year after the Christmas rush!

Last Minute Meal Ideas

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in healthy and quick recipes, Humor, last minute meals, Practical Help, Recipes

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Time is short, the days are dark (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) and our energy is often low.

I’m reposting my ideas for some quick and, mostly, nutritious meal ideas. I think they’re way better than driving to a fast food place which can take longer than making a simple meal and may involve maneuvering small children in and out of car seats which always wears me out.

We all have those days, where we look at the clock and realize we have nothing planned for dinner and the family is hungry. Here are a few ideas that may help you fill some tummies without running out for budget-busting fast food.

Oatmeal (if your children will eat it with some nutbutter and honey stirred in, it counts as a health food!)
Baked Potato Bar (microwave the potatoes for part of the time to speed up the process-serve with grated cheese, chopped hot dogs and other toppings)
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (with or without Tomato Soup)
Quesadillas (buttered tortillas with cheese and spices, grilled)
Rice with any type of leftover meat and diced veggies stirred in.
Scrambled eggs and toast
Tuna Salad on toast or lettuce leaves
Refried Beans and chips or tortillas with cheese (salsa makes everything better).

If I really have my act together, I have my ingredients for several last minute meals purchased ahead of time. I like to keep cans of refried beans and jars of salsa along with tortilla chips in the pantry for emergencies because I know that my family loves that combination.

My freezer also holds several containers of homemade soup but, to make them convenient, I freeze them in small containers so they can thaw quickly.

There’s nothing wrong with having a few bags of frozen fish sticks or a couple of pizzas stashed in the oven but a family will not be well-nourished when we moms rely on those types of meals. If we want calm, healthy children and husbands who aren’t cranky and out-of-sorts, we need to make an effort to plan regular, well-balanced meals made from whole foods.

If you don’t like my list of last minute meals, sit down and write up a few of your own or consider using my list of 31 Days of Healthy Snacks that also double as quick meals. Buy the ingredients for several of the meals on your next grocery shopping trip.

Do you have a favorite “emergency meal”? Share it with us in the comment section!