One of my favorite bloggers, Rachel Anne, over at Home Sanctuary, is encouraging her readers to "March to the Finish" in March. At the beginning of this month she asked us to join her in picking one project that has been put off and take steps to getting it done. My first choice was the garage mess that has been haunting me since we moved in last June. We unpacked everything we needed, and the rest of the boxes got stacked in the garage to be gone through at a later date. We also inherited 50 boxes or so of a game that my husband created with his best friend several years ago. A lot of them sold, but now there is the question of what to do with the ones that didn't.
Anyway, I've made a little progress on emptying out some boxes, getting rid of trash, and general cleaning. My next step will be to start opening up boxes and take a good chunk of what we don't use to a local charity. I wish I could say that I pounded it all out in one weekend, but that would be impossible. I will say that this project inspired me/my husband to work hard last weekend and get some other things off our list.
1. He primed our bold blue guest room to ready it for a fresh coat of paint, hopefully this weekend.
2. We planted some starters for tomatoes and peas.
3. I raked up the massive leaves pile in our front yard, which filled a large waste can and four more bags.
4. My husband sprayed around the outside of the house to rid of the annoying box elder bugs and defend against other pests.
In general, we got a lot accomplished around the house. It was nice to work together as a team and get things marked off our list.
Other things I want to work on this Spring (not necessarily March):
1. Re-paint the boys' dressers and install new hardware.
2. Put a splash of color in my daughter's bedroom.
3. Decorate the downstairs. (There is currently nothing on the walls.)
I suppose I better stop adding things to my list before I get overwhelmed! This house is bigger than our last, so I sometimes have a hard time just keeping up with the general housework, let alone getting extra projects done start to finish.
What projects are currently on your list? Is there something you need to start, or simply put the finishing touches on that you could mark off your list this month? I'd love to know.
Have a great weekend!
~Melissa
Friday, March 16, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
More than Enough
I was reading in Numbers chapter 16 this morning, when I found yet another example of humility demonstrated in Moses' life. There were three men, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who were rising up against Moses and stirring up trouble among the tribes. They accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the rest of God's people and deeming themselves more important than anyone else. Here are a few things about Moses' response that I noticed:
1. First he tried to reason with them. (vs. 4-7)
2. Then he tried to remind them that their God-appointed role was enough. "Then Moses said to Korah, 'Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?'"
3. When they continued to speak out against Moses, he burned with a holy anger and asked the Lord not to accept their offering. (vs. 15)
4. When the Lord said he was going to destroy all the people of their tribe, Moses fell on his face and asked him to spare the congregation and only punish the men who were sinning against the Lord. (vs. 22)
5. Moses gave the Lord all the glory for the things He had done. (vs. 28-30)
No wonder Hebrews 3:5 says of Moses "Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;"
Priscilla Shirer says of Moses in her book The Resolution for Women "He was called by heaven- an appointment that ordered his priorities, pursuits, and passions. Not perfectly, but persistently."
Moses was far from perfect. He questioned God's intentions several times along the way. But he also knew that he must pursue the calling that God had placed on his life. He knew that he had a role to accept. A part to play in God's grander scheme of things. So he embraced it. Humbly, faithfully, and wholeheartedly.
That's how I want to view God's calling on my life. Passionately, diligently, and without reserve. So that I too, can be considered faithful. Because my God-given assignment in this life is more than enough.
1. First he tried to reason with them. (vs. 4-7)
2. Then he tried to remind them that their God-appointed role was enough. "Then Moses said to Korah, 'Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?'"
3. When they continued to speak out against Moses, he burned with a holy anger and asked the Lord not to accept their offering. (vs. 15)
4. When the Lord said he was going to destroy all the people of their tribe, Moses fell on his face and asked him to spare the congregation and only punish the men who were sinning against the Lord. (vs. 22)
5. Moses gave the Lord all the glory for the things He had done. (vs. 28-30)
No wonder Hebrews 3:5 says of Moses "Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;"
Priscilla Shirer says of Moses in her book The Resolution for Women "He was called by heaven- an appointment that ordered his priorities, pursuits, and passions. Not perfectly, but persistently."
Moses was far from perfect. He questioned God's intentions several times along the way. But he also knew that he must pursue the calling that God had placed on his life. He knew that he had a role to accept. A part to play in God's grander scheme of things. So he embraced it. Humbly, faithfully, and wholeheartedly.
That's how I want to view God's calling on my life. Passionately, diligently, and without reserve. So that I too, can be considered faithful. Because my God-given assignment in this life is more than enough.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Follow the Crumb Trail
Good morning! And Welcome to any Company Girls who are visiting from Home Sanctuary! :) This morning I'd like to share a story.
Once apon a time...
Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you a story about a boy and a girl named Hansel and Gretal! What I do have to say, however, does have to do with a crumb trail.
It all began in my coffee mug cupboard. I keep my coffee mugs in a space above my coffee maker, separate from the rest of the dishes. It just makes sense to me. Anyway, the other day I went to grab a mug and noticed it had crumbs around the edges of it. "What?" I thought to myself, "These are supposed to be clean!"
Lo and behold, there were coffee crumbs, (ok, they are technically grounds, not crumbs) there in the cupboard. They must have fallen from the basket that I keep my coffee beans in, on the shelf directly above the mugs. I gently pulled out the mugs and wiped down the surface with a wet cloth, creating a freshly clean space for the mugs. It took me about a minute and a half, but it got me to thinking...where else have I missed lurking crumbs?
A quick look around my kitchen gave me the answer and the idea for today's Small Thing. It's simple. Just "Follow the Crumb Trail." Here are a few suggestions:
Clean the crumb tray in your toaster
Vacuum up the crumbs under the dining room table
Clean the crumbs that collect in the silverware drawer (or maybe that's just my problem!)
Wipe the crumbs off the counters
Wipe the cracker crumbs out of the pantry
Clean the bread crumbs out of the bread drawer (or pantry, or wherever you keep your bread.)
Vacuum the crumbs out of the living room couch/chair cushions
You get the idea. We all have crumbs in our life. Just follow the trail and see where it leads you! Like me, it just might lead you to a happy, crumb-free ending!
Where else do you find crumbs? Let us know!
Once apon a time...
Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you a story about a boy and a girl named Hansel and Gretal! What I do have to say, however, does have to do with a crumb trail.
It all began in my coffee mug cupboard. I keep my coffee mugs in a space above my coffee maker, separate from the rest of the dishes. It just makes sense to me. Anyway, the other day I went to grab a mug and noticed it had crumbs around the edges of it. "What?" I thought to myself, "These are supposed to be clean!"
Lo and behold, there were coffee crumbs, (ok, they are technically grounds, not crumbs) there in the cupboard. They must have fallen from the basket that I keep my coffee beans in, on the shelf directly above the mugs. I gently pulled out the mugs and wiped down the surface with a wet cloth, creating a freshly clean space for the mugs. It took me about a minute and a half, but it got me to thinking...where else have I missed lurking crumbs?
A quick look around my kitchen gave me the answer and the idea for today's Small Thing. It's simple. Just "Follow the Crumb Trail." Here are a few suggestions:
Clean the crumb tray in your toaster
Vacuum up the crumbs under the dining room table
Clean the crumbs that collect in the silverware drawer (or maybe that's just my problem!)
Wipe the crumbs off the counters
Wipe the cracker crumbs out of the pantry
Clean the bread crumbs out of the bread drawer (or pantry, or wherever you keep your bread.)
Vacuum the crumbs out of the living room couch/chair cushions
You get the idea. We all have crumbs in our life. Just follow the trail and see where it leads you! Like me, it just might lead you to a happy, crumb-free ending!
Where else do you find crumbs? Let us know!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
A Love that Matters
This is not a Valentine's post. Not that I am anti-Valentine's Day...I have a Valentine that has loved me faithfully for 17 years now. I even have a special Valentine to give to him, and one for each of my children.
But this post is about something bigger. It's about a love that is deeper, wider, and higher than we can ever imagine. This morning, as I was worshiping before the Lord, I felt a fresh wave of His love flow over me. It was as if He was asking me somewhere in the depths of my heart, "Daughter, do you know how much I love you?" I wondered at His question. How could there be any doubt about how much He loves me? Of course I know! But then it came again..."Do you really know how much I love you?"
Perhaps after this morning I know a little bit more how great His love is for me. That's why I wanted to post about my experience here. Maybe one of you needs to hear today how deeply He loves you. I pray with Paul that you will "know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Now that's a love worth celebrating!
Blessings in Christ,
Melissa
But this post is about something bigger. It's about a love that is deeper, wider, and higher than we can ever imagine. This morning, as I was worshiping before the Lord, I felt a fresh wave of His love flow over me. It was as if He was asking me somewhere in the depths of my heart, "Daughter, do you know how much I love you?" I wondered at His question. How could there be any doubt about how much He loves me? Of course I know! But then it came again..."Do you really know how much I love you?"
Perhaps after this morning I know a little bit more how great His love is for me. That's why I wanted to post about my experience here. Maybe one of you needs to hear today how deeply He loves you. I pray with Paul that you will "know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)
John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Now that's a love worth celebrating!
Blessings in Christ,
Melissa
Monday, February 13, 2012
Menu Monday
Oh yeah, it's that kind of Monday. I finally have a moment to sit down and post my menu for the week. I am trying really hard to cook from my pantry as much as possible this month. Any left over grocery money I have at the end of the month will go towards stock piling (freezer/pantry) during an upcoming trip to Costco and Winco with my mother in law. It's a fun day trip for us, about an hour away.
Tonight's meal has already been devoured, cleaned up, and leftovers put neatly in the fridge for when hubby gets home. It was chicken and potatoes with gravy. Yum!
Tuesday: Kari's Mexican Casserole (A favorite)
Wednesday: Unstuffed Shells
Thursday: Omelets
Friday: Parmesan Chicken
Saturday: Chili and cornbread
Sunday: Chicken Fajitas
I'll be making banana bread tomorrow. Anyone have a good raisin bread recipe? My kids love raisin bread, but I don't like how pricey it is in the store.
Have a great week!
~Melissa
Tonight's meal has already been devoured, cleaned up, and leftovers put neatly in the fridge for when hubby gets home. It was chicken and potatoes with gravy. Yum!
Tuesday: Kari's Mexican Casserole (A favorite)
Wednesday: Unstuffed Shells
Thursday: Omelets
Friday: Parmesan Chicken
Saturday: Chili and cornbread
Sunday: Chicken Fajitas
I'll be making banana bread tomorrow. Anyone have a good raisin bread recipe? My kids love raisin bread, but I don't like how pricey it is in the store.
Have a great week!
~Melissa
Friday, February 10, 2012
Valley Fog
This morning as I was driving the kids to school, I couldn't help but think "Is this heavy fog ever going to lift?" And then I remembered that I live in a valley. Allow me to go Wikipedia Weather girl on you for a moment. Valley fog is the result of a temperature inversion caused by heavier cold air settling into a valley, with warmer air passing over the mountains above. With calm conditions, (no wind, like now) it can last for days. And it has. We have been in fog all week. First, it was freezing fog, and now, thankfully the temperature has risen a bit, but it's very low visibility.Sometimes my walk with God bears a striking resemblance to the current weather. There are days, or even weeks, when I feel like I'm stuck in a valley fog. I have limited visibility, but I have to trust that God, like my headlights, will shine enough into the darkness to show me the correct path. This is where it is ever so important that I am in His Word on a regular basis. As Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path."
Just like the weather, our current circumstances can change quickly and unexpectedly. A valley fog can roll in out of nowhere, but that doesn't mean that we have to stop moving forward. God is right there with us lighting our path, helping us navigate our way through the fog.
So the next time you find yourself in a valley with the fog rolling in, don't forget to turn on your headlights! In other words, crack open your Bible and let His light shine the way.
Blessings,
Melissa
Friday, February 3, 2012
Spilled Oatmeal, Humble Heart
This morning, as the kids were getting their breakfast, LR spilled her entire bowl of un-cooked oatmeal on the floor. Normally I would respond to that in frustration and shortness. Today I was actually surprised at my own reaction. As tears flowed down her face I reassured her that it was going to be ok and that I knew it was only an accident. I grabbed a roll of paper towels and started to mop up the mess on the cabinets and floor and then I noticed some of it was on her little feet and I began to wipe them gently until the oatmeal was gone. Immediately the story of Jesus washing His disciple's feet came to mind.
When he was done washing their feet He said to them, "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." (John 13:13-15)
I don't always respond with the love and tenderness that I did this morning. I often forget about the tiny eyes that are watching me, waiting for my reaction. So what made the difference this morning? I can only give the credit to the One who has washed my feet. He came to earth as a humble servant, and I will do my best to imitate His humility in my life, just as His Word instructs in Philippians 2:5-8.
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
After this morning I will be more aware of little watching eyes. I am thankful that where I fall short, there is grace and forgiveness. For these children are my precious gifts from God and I love them with all my heart.
Blessings,
Melissa
When he was done washing their feet He said to them, "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." (John 13:13-15)
I don't always respond with the love and tenderness that I did this morning. I often forget about the tiny eyes that are watching me, waiting for my reaction. So what made the difference this morning? I can only give the credit to the One who has washed my feet. He came to earth as a humble servant, and I will do my best to imitate His humility in my life, just as His Word instructs in Philippians 2:5-8.
"In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!"
After this morning I will be more aware of little watching eyes. I am thankful that where I fall short, there is grace and forgiveness. For these children are my precious gifts from God and I love them with all my heart.
Blessings,
Melissa
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