Building Our Homes Together ~ September 7th

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

Building Our Homes Together, With JESUS!

 

Week # 14

Be sure and go visit Linda at Prairie Flower Farm, for more 

*Building Our Homes Together With Jesus* posts!

Hi Y'all!

I have been working on a Bible Study ~ covering the Month of Elul ~ but after taking two days off over Labor Day, I decided to post a Building Our Homes Together segment before continuing the study.

Praying God is blessing your homes!

Our weather has been so much better….cooler, the last 3 days!  I love it!

Last week was the local County Fair.  For us, the County Fair has always been a family thing.  Something we do together.

It is one of those “traditions” that we all enjoy.

(My favorite part of the fair, is watching the youngest grandbabies in the Ag barn, while visiting with old friends.  That leaves Papaw and the grown kids free to chase the older grands up & down the midway!  I admit it, I am too old mature to enjoy riding the rides. LOL )

 

And usually (like this year), fair time also marks the first few evenings of cooler ~ *jacket weather*.  The air begins to have that certain crispness to it and you realize *A*U*T*U*M*N* in all its glory is just around the corner!

All of this reminds me, it is time to think about preparing our homes and pantries for fall and work on a few projects for the up coming holidays.

Have you been thinking?  Maybe unlike me, the procrastinator, you have already begun preparing your home, stocking your pantry, and working on projects for the holidays.

Here are my “lists” for fall

For the home…..

Preserve some fall leaves in glycerin to use in fall flower arrangements.

(you use 1 part glycerin to 2 parts water)

I’d like to find some pretty red maple leaves, along with some yellows and browns.

Make a dried apple garland ~ alternating dried apple slices and cinnamon sticks.

Make some fresh apple jack scented soap.

For the pantry…..(& freezer)

We are getting ready to plant fall turnips.  They are so good!

This month I plan to stock up on the following:

1 case of crackers

3 large containers of peanut butter

A variety of canned soups

Add to the amount of flour in the freezer

Buy one turkey for the freezer

I plan to put up…..

More grape jelly

*Make jalapeno jelly

Apple pie filling

And continue freezing okra

*Usually, I make Chow-chow, however this year we don’t have the green tomatoes.  So, I’m going with jalapeno jelly.

Projects for the holidays…..

I have been making “what for who” lists.

This year we will be sticking with practical/useful items….

This isn’t the time for frivolous gifts that may or may not be used.

I will be making candles, soaps, along with jellies for many of our gifts.  These will be added to decorated baskets, along with a few other things.

For the two youngest grands, I am planning on making fleece-tied quilts with pillows to match.

The *middle* group of grands….art and craft supplies.

The girls will be getting the weaving looms (and loops) for making pot holders.  The boys the copper sculpture sheets for making wall hangings for their rooms.

The older boys….hunting/camping supplies.

Grown kids….

(These are the most difficult and I am still thinking!)

Plus they read…here, from time to time.

I'm thinking about putting together a family cookbook!

That's what I will be up to for the next few weeks!  That, along with homeschool and the normal everyday chores!

Blessings, 

Cheryl 

Building Our Homes Together ~ August 17th

Building Our Homes Together.....with JESUS!

For more about Building Our Homes Together ....with Jesus, be sure and visit Prairie Flower Farm. 

You will be blessed!

Good morning, everyone!  Praying you are having a wonderful week in HIM!

The word COMPROMISE keeps coming to mind this morning.  Life is made up of a situations giving us the opportunity to learn to compromise, isn't it?  And that is never more true than in a marriage or in the home!

My friend, Angela, often refers to the following verse when speaking of herself and her husband:

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

(Proverbs 27:17)

In iron there is great strength.   Some of our wills are like that....we can be very strong willed, which can be an asset or it can be a stumbling block.  

It is an asset when it provides the foundation on which we can rest our beliefs.  It gives us that "step up" so to speak, to be able to express to others, what we believe is  

TRUTH.

However, when we display our strong wills by not being willing to compromise within our marriage or in our homes, it can be a very real "stumbling block"!

You and your "help meet" are one, your thoughts and actions can sharpen one another....not to use those sharpened weapons against one another (because you are ONE), but to be used against the enemy.

It is apart of that "armour" Paul tells us to put on, to be able to stand against the devil.  It is a part of the shield of faith, we are to use to quench the fiery darts of the enemy!

We need to learn to be quick to compromise within our families.  

With children, mom always said, "Pick your battles."  Meaning don't fight over everything.  Rather weigh the importance of the situation first.  Often, when children do not do something exactly the way you would like it done, they are not being rebellious, but developing their own ability to make decisions, to stand on their own two feet.  It is just a part of growing up.

This morning I had to compromise with my honey.  

I didn't want to, at least not at first.

We homeschool our 14 and 15 y/o, along with our soon to be 13 y/o grandson.  Dh is very conscious of keeping to schedules, keeping the boys busy with school during normal school hours, etc.  (He has a teaching degree....so while it gives structure to our schooling, it can drive me a little crazy.  I tell him it tends to cloud his reasoning, by not allowing him to think "outside the box classroom".

Dh and his brother are rebuilding an old pond and dressing the surrounding area.  I reasoned the boys would learn more by going with him today...heavy equipment (they are just beginning to learn a little about how to handle the bulldozers, etc), how about contouring the land, that type of thing.  

My thinking, ~ this type of opportunity to learn firsthand does not happen all that often.  Let's take advantage of it!!!

Dh's thinking, ~ he can get up and get an early start, leaving the boys to do their chores (along with a couple of his chores), they will be able to accomplish some class work (staying inside) and be here to help me.

But what I hear is....no, they need to be at home "in" school.  (Inside the box thinking.)

What he hears....she (me) doesn't want to do classroom work today (which has some truth, as I believe children are continually learning in a number of ways and the more ways, the better educated they actually become.  Obviously, my thinking has not been clouded by receiving my teaching certification.).

Anyway, our joint conclusion was for the boys to stay home doing chores, classroom work and going with me to buy feed, etc. today and tomorrow.  Friday afternoon and all day Saturday, they will go with him to work on constructing the pond.

The boys will benefit from both and hopefully, they will also learn a little bit about compromising, rather than holding out to get their own way.....after all, they can be pretty strong willed, too!

But ~ we are building our home, one day at a time.

BTW, I put up okra and squash yesterday.  Pickings from the garden are a little slim due to the excessive heat and lack of rain, but God is still blessing and we are taking advantage of everything He sends our way.

Praying for each of you to have a very blessed week in HIM!

Hugs,

Cheryl

Building Our Homes Together ~ July 27th (and a little soapboxing)

 “Homemaking is one of the sacred tasks of life, for the home is the family Temple, consecrated to the service of parents and offspring. As the strength of the State is founded upon family life, so is the strength of society based upon the home. The building up of the home should be an event of profound importance.”

Written by Charles Keeler, 1906

Here we are, week # 9!  Wow!

Be sure and visit Prairie Flower Farm for more

Building Our Homes Together

 With Jesus!

I am wondering, what are those jobs that drive you crazy,

when they are left undone?

These are the three things I tend to be OCD about:

The bathroom, the bathrooms have to be clean.

(Usually, the last thing I do before I go to bed is clean the main bathroom and put a clean hand towel out.  Then after the boys do their morning “grooming”, I go back over it.)

Dishes….my table may be piled high, but my dishes are done!  I do not like a sink full of dirty dishes.  So, I wash dishes as I cook.  Then after the meal, I only have a few things left to wash up.

No, we do not have a dish washer…..except for me or if I assign one the boys to kitchen detail.

And the trash has to be carried out….sometimes, I send the boys out with trash two or three times a day!

So, how is your week going?

I am knee deep in jelly making this week.  The blackberries didn’t make due to lack of rain and the extreme heat.  (They were like tiny hard marbles, which was so unusual.)  However, one of our neighbors has an abundance of grapes!!!

He has now brought nearly 5 gallons of grapes and says he hasn’t begun to make a dent in them!  I’ll be making jelly for his family, also, as his wife passed away a few months ago. 

(What am I saying?  I will be making enough jelly for an army!)

Here in the hottest part of summer (at least I hope it doesn’t get any hotter), our yellow straight neck squash has jumped into overdrive!  I think I’ve cooked squash every other night….and we have been sharing with neighbors, whose squash failed to make.

I am calling this a blessing, because we have never had squash make once the weather turned HOT!

I feel this is the way I look. LOL

(Notice, I wrote Genesis instead of Galatians.  I was having a conversation with one of the boys while I was writing.)

No extra grands this week, so I am tackling the WASH….before it tackles me.  I hope by the end of the week this mountain will be conquered.

I guess, I need to get to the “meat” of this post….something that could help someone else.

Last Wednesday, I listed some money saving tips.  I thought that was a good topic (especially considering all that is going on in Washington).  Since then, I’ve spent several hours reading ways to save money, looking for something valuable to pass along.  My conclusion is …… a lot of the people who write to tell you how to save, do not live in the same world I do!

So…..I am going to list some of my ideas….again:

When making a milk-based gravy, if you are also cooking mashed potatoes, you can use the water you drain off the potatoes for up to half the liquid in the gravy.

Baking your own bread can save lots of money.  The most expensive ingredients in bread are flour, oil and yeast.  For the cost of one loaf of bread, you can make four loaves.  (Of course, once your family begins eating fresh bread warm from the oven, they will think you should make bread everyday.)

I cook certain foods on certain days.  I don’t really make a menu, but I cook beans on Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are usually meatless for myself and dh.  We normally cookout over the weekend, so on Tuesdays (hopefully) I have some type of meat leftover for the boys.  On Thursday, we have Mexican food and I have beans leftover to go with.  Besides, I like not having to guess how long something has been in the fridge.

Living in a rural area, we have to have wireless internet and we needed our cell phones, so we gave up our land line.  This has saved us about $50 a month.

If your freezer is not full, fill empty containers (milk jugs work) with water and place in the freezer.  I cost less to run a full freezer than an empty one.  (And if it is 110 at your place, you can throw a few of those frozen milk jugs in the pool and let them float around, cooling the water down.)

Use Wal-Mart’s policy of price matching.  Wal-Mart will honor all competitors’ sale items.  (Our WW even honors the big discount store’s ad….and the store is 40 miles away!).  Angela at Free Spirit Haven works for Wal-Mart and she is serious about saving money.  Checkout Angela’s website for posts on how to make the most out of price matching.

I want to add, I am not a big Wal-Mart fan, but last December, the big discount store I mentioned, ran 10 lbs of potatoes for $1.00.  I didn’t have time to drive the forty miles, so I went to Wal-Mart (12 miles away) and was going to get my potatoes there.  They were out of the 10 lb. bags (I wasn’t the only one with this bright idea.)  I talked to the produce manager and he told me I could buy the 5 lb. bags for fifty cents a bag.  I bought 40…..200 lbs. of potatoes for $20.  We stored them in the well-house in bins and they lasted us until mid June.  Not having to run to 3 or 4 different stores saves both time and gas, too!

(soapbox time, lol)

I normally buy from a locally owned store about 9 miles from our place.  I’ve watched WW put several locally owned stores out of business…..which I dislike tremendously.  The store I buy from has good, quality meats (I do not care for WW’s meats) and they have good sales.  Overall their regular prices are a little higher, but I understand that and try to limit what I buy if it isn’t on sale.

I am also an advocate of buying from the local farmer!  We need to support those in our communities whenever we can.  Before we started raising goats, I purchased our milk from an Amish dairy.  And we are fortunate to have a state-wide co-op, made up of Oklahoma producers.  The quality is unbelievable.

Just look and see what is available in your area and make your money count.  We need to work together.

 

~ Last ~

If you run out of something to blog about, why don’t you try

“Where I Come From”?

This was so much fun and I love reading the things people include in “their stories”.  Talk about memories!

You can read my, “Where I Come From” here.

   If you write one, be sure and let me know.  I want to read your story!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Don't forget.....Friday....we will be praying!  Leave your requests in the comments or email me.  Our information is in the side bar.

Building Our Holmes Together With JESUS and Summer Thoughts A ~ Z

Building Our Homes Together

With Jesus!

Hello ladies and hello to my new followers!  I have to tell you though, due to internet problems, I cannot see who my new followers are. :(  As a matter of fact, I can't see any of my followers.  I've tried on Internet Explorer and on Firefox.  Neither one are completely loading the page.  I get this "done but with errors" thing.

We will be attempting to get this repaired....

I need my techie son or son-in-law to come to my rescue!  I think honey-hunk and I have exhausted our technical knowledge.....who am I kidding, I am technically challenged from the get go!!!

How has your week been?  Can you believe this is the

8th Building Our Homes Together? 

That's pretty awesome!

I am enjoying getting to know each of you a little better and I think it is wonderful that we are beginning to see the results of our Wednesday's post, not only in our homes, but in serving others, both those who live near by and those we can help who live far away.

(Linda always comes up with the neatest ideas for serving others.  And she is a great encourager!)

Wednesdays and Fridays are my favorite days to blog ~ Building Our Homes Together, With Jesus and Fearless Fridays ~ love them both, because they lift up the LORD. 

But Satan isn't likeing either one, so the battles have been interesting!

But this just confirms my suspicion, that we are doing something good and worthwhile.  It reminds me of this verse:

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Galatians 6:9

Today, I thought we might look at a few ways to save money.  I know it is a subject I am always interested in and it is good to be a wise steward of that which the LORD has given us, particularly when it concerns money (and time).

I buy on sale.  If dishwashing soap is on sale, I buy several.  The same with flour, butter, whatever.  If it isn't on sale, I don't buy unless I absolutely have too.  At first, this was a little difficult, but after a few weeks, when you have some reserve built up, it becomes the natural thing to do.  And you will reap big savings and a full pantry.  In the beginning, I would buy 3 of everything on sale...now, I am able to buy more, depending on what it is and how often we use the item.

Many ladies make their own laundry soap, including myself.  This is another real money saver and the cost of doing laundry is reduced to pennies a load.  I love it!

Making your own beauty products is also a money saver, as is making your own breads (and mixes).  Kim at Marmee's Pantry is an excellent source for both of these money savers!  Just click on  "Frugal Living" under her Post Categories.  She has a 104 posts on frugal living.  Definitely worth your time to check it out.

(Tell her, I sent you!)

Now, I'll tell you a couple of things I do.  I save all my empty peanut butter jars.  The plastic is heavy and see through, so they make great containers for the freezer!  And they are free!;)

I save my empty cottage cheese containers (I buy the large) to freeze blackberries in.  It is just the right amount for a cobbler and the berries keep well (without leaking juice like when they are frozen in plastic bags).

During cooler weather, I keep a half gallon container in the freezer.  When we have leftovers, but not enough to save for another meal....such as a couple of tablespoons of corn, a slice or two of roast beef, beef or chicken broth, leftover chopped onions, I add these leftovers to my container....my soup container.  It really doesn't take long to fill up.  When it is full, I add a fresh chopped onion, some cubed potatoes, celery, and put a great pot of (free) soup on the stove!

This one is one of the boys' favorites!  What to do with leftover hamburger or hotdog buns?  Open them up, spread with a little tomato sauce (I add a generous helping of garlic), top with grated cheese and toast.  We call them "pizza quicks."  Leftover garlic or French bread works well, also.

We also have a change jar.  All the change I find around the house, goes into the jar....including the change that falls to the bottom of the washing machine.  In three months time, we had over $30.  We use this for something special for all the kids or to help someone.  I let the boys help decide.  It builds character.

Hope some of these ideas will be useful.  And if you feel like sharing some to the things you do to save money, I would love it!

“The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.”

Psalms  16:6

For more Building Our Homes Together posts, visit Linda at Prairie Flower Farm.

And for more Summer Thoughts A ~ Z, visit Katharine by clicking on the A ~ Z button.

May the Shalom of God be upon your homes and in your lives!

Blessings,

Cheryl

P.S.  It late and I did not proof read this....sorry!  If you have a prayer request, be sure and let me know, either in the comments or you can email me.

Building Our Homes Together ~ July 13th and Summer Thoughts A to Z

Good Morning, Ladies!  I love Wednesdays, because it is

Building Our Homes Together With Jesus!

But before I get started visiting, I need to do this:

 (And I want to tell you, this has been fun!  You could join us, starting anytime!)

“Summer Thoughts” is brought to you by Katharine.  Just click on the button and you can read all about it.  We are blogging through the Alphabet during the first 26 days of July.

~ M ~

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.”

Psalm 100:1

Can I just say, I wish I was out making MUD PIES, but I am not!  Last night’s rain came so close.  Still I will (choose to) make a Joyful noise unto the LORD!

(BTW, Katharine, you should join us on Building Our Homes Together! *Smile*)

Also, welcome to my new followers!

In one of my feeble attempts at getting organized, I rushed around and had a post ready to go!  It was good, too.  Divided into to topics, instead of being all over the place, like I normally am.  And I did this two days ago, because as of about 9:30 this morning, we are booked solid with grand kids and it will be this way until the end of the month.  I am taking donations for the grocery bill.

However, yesterday I felt impressed that what I had written was not what the Lord wanted.  So once again, I am flying by the seat of my pants and praying the Holy Spirit gives me something of value to share.

Let me just say, this is hard....a hard message.  Please do not be offended, some times what I receive from the Holy Spirit is for me, occasionally it is for others.  What I am going to write is for your good, not to upset you in any possible way.  So, if you feel I've written something that is offensive, just consider the message was real, but perhaps not meant for you.  It could be, ABBA is speaking only to me.

There is good news and there is not such good news.

The good news is, our time here is growing shorter by the day.  Things, people, and governments are moving into to position for the end of days, in the way which you are currently familiar with "time".  This is indeed good news!  Soon you will see the deliverance of the LORD in all HIS mighty splendor!  You should feel excited to be alive at this time.....need I remind you, 'You were born for such a time as this.'?

The bad news, in the natural circumstances are going to appear very rocky, but do not let fear overtake you.  Many have taken my Word and come to conclusions that are not mine.  When things begin to happen that do not line up with how you have been taught, remember 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.'

Just as I protected my people in the Land of Goshen, so I will be with you.  You will see great and mighty works, but you will need to trust in ME, not in yourselves and not in man.

As for storing food, medicine, items of clothing.....this is fine, but do not get attached to that which you have stored.  If you see someone who has a need, you must help meet that need if you are able.  When I call for you, you must not look back on that which you have accumulated.  That which I will give you, will be greater than you can now imagine.  Again, do not be tempted by what you now have, do not let what you have and can touch, become a millstone around your neck.

Take care of your earthly Tabernacle, guard your hearts and watch always.

That's it, girls.

I know (better that anyone) this is not my normal post.  Sorry, wish I knew something to say, I'm empty.

Be sure and go by Linda's and checkout the other "home builders" who have linked up.  Linda also has a marvelous party going on!  And if you would like a copy of The Ball Blue Book (the best canning book on the planet), she now has them available.  I've worn out two copies over the years!

It rained at our oldest daughter's yesterday, about an hour away.  Their tempt was 74 our's was 104.  I am glad they received rain ~ 3 inches of wonderful rain!  The danger of fires is always a concern during a drought. 

Our air conditioner went out, yesterday.  Honey Hunk is working on it.  (Pray)  DS#1's went out last month, DD#1's central unit went out Sunday evening.  I'm sure they appreciated the break in the temperature!  

I spent much of yesterday looking online for hay.  Many, many ranchers/farmers are hurting, many are selling out.  (I found a sweet looking horse yesterday for a dollar, already broke and gentle.  The girl who owned him, said she could no longer afford to feed him and just wanted him to go to a good home.  I cried.  I thought about our own horses.  I cried some more.)  I made the boys take our horses extra treats yesterday.  And they also gave the neighbor's horse some treats.  They are tenderhearted.  (I cried some more, but it was good.)  My point of this is, pray for our country's farmers and ranchers.  What affects them, will also affect you.

Linda asked for canning/preserving recipes.  I am including my (great) Aunt Sula's sweet pickle recipe.  I love them!  They are sweet and crisp and so good cold.  And other than the sugar, are extremely beneficial for you.  When canning, the cucumbers get a super infusion of the herbs and spices (celery seed, cinnamon, clove) that are so healthy for our bodies.  I do not remember Aunt Sula or Uncle John ever having a cold or the flu and these were always a staple on their table.  (The recipe is included at the end of this post.)

If you like my new look, (my new blog look*smile*)

you need to talk to Beth Zimmerman!  She is so sweet to work with and goes above and beyond what she is asked to do.

Praying you have an excellent week and that our Heavenly Father meets your every need! 

Blessings,

Cheryl

My Aunt Sula’s 14 Day Sweet Pickles

       4 pounds cucumbers

       ¾ cup pickling salt

       2 tsp. celery salt

       2 Tbsp. pickling spices

51/2 cups sugar 

4 cups vinegar, 5%

Cucumbers can be canned in chunks (large slices) strips, or whole.

Wash cucumbers and trim the blossom end, leave a little of the stem on the stem in, about 1/8 of an inch.  Place whole cucumbers in suitable 1 gallon container or crock.  

Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil and add ¼ cup pickling salt.   Pour over cucumbers.

Weight the cucumbers down, so they stay in the solution and cover with clean towel. On the seventh day, drain salt water and discard. Rinse cucumbers and re-scald the containers, cover, and weight. 

Slice cucumbers or cut into strips if desired, and return to container. Place celery seed and pickling spices in small cheesecloth bag. Combine 2 cups sugar and 4 cups vinegar in a saucepan. Add spice bag, bring to a boil and pour pickling solution over cucumbers. Add cover and weight, and cover with a clean towel.

For the next six days (each day), drain syrup and spice bag and save. Add 1/2 cup sugar (each day) and bring to a boil in a saucepan.

Remove cucumbers and rinse.

Scald container, cover, and weight daily. Return cucumbers to container, add boiled syrup, weight, and cover with a clean towel.

On the 14th day, drain syrup into saucepan. Fill sterile canning jars leaving 1/2-inch head space. Add 1/2 cup sugar to syrup and bring to boil. Remove spice bag. Pour hot syrup over cucumbers, leaving 1/2-inch head space. Adjust lids and process in a water bath for 10 minutes for pints and 15 minutes for quarts.

(Before this last step, I have used the food processor to chop the pickles up, then added the hot syrup and sealed.  It makes a great sweet relish. ~ Cheryl)

My great-aunt and uncle, were my "grandparents".  They took my mother and her sister in when their own mother passed away.  She was Sula's sister.  The girls were 2 and 5 years old.  Aunt Sula and Uncle John had a 10 year old daughter at the time.  This was prior to the depression and the time dust bowl - times were hard, but Aunt Sula and Uncle John were loving care givers.  Growing up, I spent every chance I could on their farm.

Building Our Homes Together ~ July 6th

Building Our Homes Together

With

Jesus!

Welcome to Week #6 of Building Our Homes Together With Jesus!  We have Linda @ Prairie Flower Farm to blame for this ~ to thank for inviting us to come along! 

Be sure and head over to Prairie Flower Farm to find out  the details!  Then blog about what you and JESUS are doing to build your home.....transforming your house into your sanctuary and transforming you life and those around you.  After that, link up with the rest of us!  

I didn’t get the Blueberry Muffins made this morning, but I do have freshly made Blackberry Jelly, a pan of hot Buttermilk Biscuits and some Little Smokies in the skillet ~ better hurry on the little smokies, they disappear fast!

 Fill your plate and pour yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of juice then have a seat at the table where we can visit!

(As you can see, around here you have to make yourself at home and wait on yourself!  We believe in treating people like family!)

It has been a busy week!  I am not too sure I accomplished much other than shopping, feeding people, cleaning up, feeding people….well, you get the picture.  I’ve been on the holiday 

Merry-go-round.

I love the Fourth of July.  We had an excellent time.  I am exhausted!  (Hot weather has that effect on me.  Like the garden, I tend to wilt.)

Four the next eight days, I do not plan on having any extra kids! 

Hopefully, I will get so much done this coming week, you will be amazed!  

(Or ~ at leas,t I will be amazed!)

So, how was your holiday weekend?  Did you have family visiting?

Our county lifted the burn ban for the Fourth!  I’m not kidding.  Apparently, it is okay to burn the county down as long as you do it on the Fourth of July. 

Our kids and grandkids were thrilled.  Honey-hunk filled the big water tank which is on a trailer, then hooked the trailer to the tractor….just in case.

Fortunately, we didn’t need it.

God had to be watching over us!

I wondered what the county commissioners, fire chief and whoever else plays a part in determining when to issue a burn ban….What were they thinking?!!!

As you can see, it has been a typical (for us) holiday weekend...work, fun, and family.  Not much housework though.  I am reminding myself, "Building Our Homes" isn't just about bringing order to our houses.

For me, "Building Our Homes" is about living and serving in the present.


Here are a few tips, that hopefully can help make life a little easier ~

1.  Clean out the refrigerator before you go to the grocery store to buy a week’s worth of groceries.  There is less in the fridge, making it quicker to deal with and you will have a better idea of what you have.  (Because who needs six packages of cream cheese?  Don’t ask.) 

2.  Keeping the cleaning supplies you use daily in a caddy (so you don’t have to look for them), can save time.

3.  For things that are important, create a space especially for them.  We have a place on the side of the cabinet for all keys.  It is a great time saver.  Before we did this, honey-hunk and I probably spent hours looking for “the keys”.

4.  A friend of mine recently took an old shoe box, decorated it and made a cell phone/charger station.

5.  You might want to create a special place for mail, library books, …

you name it!

6.  Another friend (that is sort of like me – a bit unorganized) set the alarm on her cell phone to go off every morning at 10:00…so, if she can’t find it, she listens for the alarm.  It really helped when while on a trip, she had locked it in her trunk.

7.  Keep a prayer journal (a simple notebook will do) by the phone.  When you get ready for bed, place the prayer journal with your Bible to keep beside your bed at night.  It can be a spiritual Lifeline.

Hope some of these help!  Look forward to seeing you next week.

Blessings,

Cheryl

Building Our Homes Together ~ June 29th

                         Wow, can you believe we are on week #5 of 
 

Building Our Homes Together?

Time flies when you are sharing it with nice people!

Be sure and head over to Prairie Flower Farm to get the scoop!  Then blog about what you and JESUS are doing to build your home.....transforming your house into your sanctuary.  After that, link up with the rest of us!  

*We'll come visit....well, we will visit your blog, anyway!*

Now, there are Blueberry Muffins on the stove and the coffee is wonderful this morning!  Help yourself, then find a comfy place to sit.  It is always nice to have friends to drop by!

I still have days when I look around and can’t quite figure out what I’ve accomplished.  So, I thought it might be nice to take inventory!

To date I have accomplished the following:

I finished cleaning the well house and it is ready for the shelves to be put in.

I plan to store some of the overflow of canning jars (etc.) in the well house, freeing up some space in the kitchen.

 (My spider bite, acquired while cleaning the well house, is nearly completely healed.  Thank you to those who knew about my bite and prayed.)

I started cleaning out drawers.  I love cleaning drawers, because there

is an instant gratification.  You can see the results of your handiwork immediately!  To date, 8 drawers and two shelving units have been cleaned.

We had a number of boxes and storage tubs that different ones had carried in….and left + their contents.  4 Boxes….4 large boxes, emptied and the boxes thrown away and two tubs emptied.

In the living room, the DVD/video/game shelves have been moved cleaned behind and the movies/games dusted and rearranged.

Ditto on the living room book shelf.

I am now tackling the computer desk….which is HUGE and PACKED!

This may not seem like a lot….but I’ve also had grandkids continuously, cooked at least two meals a day + clean up, fought my way across mountains of laundry, cleaned the bathrooms at least 3 dozen times, processed 360 liters of milk, made soap, made laundry soap (okay, that one didn’t take that long), cleaned off the kitchen table, fought to keep kitchen table half way cleaned off, made jelly, worked in the garden, …..and the list goes on.

Have I learned anything?  Turning loose of clutter before it becomes attached to our lives would be the smart thing to do. *smile*

So, what are your plans for the Fourth?

Oklahoma Sports Park is just a few miles from the house, so we will take the boys to watch the firework display Saturday evening after a family cookout.

Sunday, after church DD#1 and her family will be down….well, two of hers are here now, but the rest will join….another cookout.  Kids will swim, fish in the pond and ride the ATVs….maybe play baseball in the pasture if it isn’t too HOT.

If we don’t get some rain, popping fireworks won’t be a part of the celebration due to a burn band.  We might plan a treasure hunt or something for the younger kids.

~ MENU ~

Saturday

Hamburgers with trimmings

Hot Dogs

Deviled Eggs

Chips

Homemade Banana Ice Cream

Watermelon

Cookies

Sunday

Grilled Chicken

Baked Beans

Potato Salad

Fresh Corn on the Cob

Chips

And those cute little individual cheese cakes

served  in  ½ pint Mason jars Linda showed us.  

More WatermeloN

Monday

                                    I’ll be babysitting and the menu will be leftovers!

Spiritually speaking....amazing things are happening!  Like the clutter that seems to overflow, what is happening in the spirit is also overflowing!  It is awesome!

I've joined other ladies (particularly Angela) in dedicating Fridays to praying for people...anyone...you...your children....the neighbor next door.  You can find out all about it at the top of my side bar.  We'd love, love for you to join us!!!

We are seeing some amazing answers to prayer!

My honey and I also started the Shi-anne Social Club....(which is just a take off of my favorite dog's name).  We invite friends and neighbors who might be hurting spiritually, to come for dinner each SONday evening!  God is blessing and we are beyond thrilled! 

So...what's going on at your place?  If you don't have enough to keep you busy, after breakfast we will be worming horses.  You're welcome to join us....it's really not that bad.

Be sure and visit the other ladies participating in Building Our Homes Together With JESUS! 

Praying the rest of the week is a blessed one and you and yours have a very blessed and safe Fourth of July celebration!

May Goodness and Mercy be your constant companions! 

~ Cheryl ~ 

Thought for today: 

"Bravery never goes out of fashion."  William Thackeray