The Great Closet Clean-Up Finished!

Day 3-4

The boys and I had fun hanging up the wall decor that had been stored for over a year now. The girls and I worked hard cleaning out their room and closet and rearranging beds. Everyone likes a new look now and then. :D It's a great feeling to have a big project like that out of the way. Next week we have something light and fun to do together, which will be a good break.

Thanks for your cheers everyone. I'm so glad it's Friday.

The Great Closet Clean-Up Continued

Day Two

Well, the closet itself is Done!  Decluttered, organized, prepped for baby's items to fit in and to do the seasonal clothing switch-a-roo in a couple of months.

I know, I know, it still looks like a closet. Close your eyes and imagine with me that all of those storage boxes are matching bins with printed labels. The hangers are color coded for each child. (Speaking of that, just WHERE have all the hangers gone?!?) And there is no need for that bin of mismatched sox or the box of mismatched shoes in the corner.  

I admit that over the next week this room will be my new hangout when I want to have a little order in my life. I am a strange one, for sure. ;-)

I took some top and bottom shots. It's not an easy thing to get a good photo of a closet! Not bad for fitting a family of almost 9 in one closet, huh?

Now that that room is looking lovely...I have a real mess in my bedroom to conquer! I did get most of the basement items arranged today. Still have more wall hangings to do and the children's closets to sort out as well. The week is still young. ;-)

The Great Closet Clean-Up

Day One

This week's big project is to clean out and organize our family closet along with the children's closets in their rooms. It was a big job today, but I managed to gut out the family closet and organize the mess...I mean our belongings into zones to accomplish throughout the rest of the week. I thought it would be fun to post pics of the before, during and after as we work. It'll keep me motivated, that's for sure!

Before:

Day 1 Progression:

And one of the messes I need to conquer this week...whew!!

Stay tuned and cheer me on...PLEASE!!!

Truly Counting Our Blessings

"Count your blessings, name them one by one...

"Count your blessings, see what God has done...

Count your blessings.....name them one by one...

Count your many blessings, see what God has done!"

I am so amazed at all the ways the Lord has shown Himself faithful over the last weeks. Looking at the calendar, in the previous 10 weeks David has had 2 small jobs that brought in any income for our family. However, over those 10 weeks, we have seen the Lord provide abundantly!

1. Pantry and freezer were already well stocked with bulk dry goods and two turkeys from Thanksgiving sales!
2. Church family shared a gracious monetary blessing to our family.
3. We have been welcomed to participate in a food pantry ministry weekly, providing our family with an abundance of fresh produce, breads and very low-cost meats for the freezer. Truly, our fridge is overflowing every week! Praise the Lord!
4. David was given an open door to pursue his new business with at least 10 stores in our area. This is a huge, unexpected opportunity.  We pray it is a first step in a great new adventure for our family.
5. A work opportunity came up just this week that will provide the funds to keep us current on our monthly bills.
6. Another promising lead for work came in today...we are praying!
7. This afternoon a neighbor presented David with 3 grocery bags of food that was gifted to our family by an anonymous person. We're having bbq ribs tonite!  WOW!
8. We have been in such wonderful health this winter. Praising the Lord for his protection against any medical costs.
9. Our van has been healthy too! So grateful we haven't had to face any repair costs.  Sticking close to home has allowed us to save on gas as well.
10. We have learned to count so many MORE blessings than we ever noticed before.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of relying on your provision in all things. It's so easy to think that our own efforts are the reason we have the funds, food and extras we desire. You have blessed us mightily by allowing a season in our lives to understand that our best efforts will bring nothing outside of your providential hand.

"Count your blessings, name them one by one...

Count your blessings, see what God has done...

Count your blessings.....name them one by one...

Count your many blessings, see what God has done!"

And now you have a great tune to sing today. What a blessing!! Heehee!

Here's Thinking of You, Dad!

Yesterday we served Italian for our Pot-Providence meal during our church meeting. Somehow, I remembered back to my childhood days and the wonderful Chicken Cacciatore my Dad used to make. There are only a few meals I remember Dad making, and this one was a specialty for him. I found an easy-peasy recipe on my favorite recipe site, allrecipes.com.  I dropped it in the crockpot to cook overnite and it served up delicious for lunch! YUM!!

Thanks for the memories, Dad. It was pretty neat having you on my mind as I shared one of your claims to fame. :D  Next I'll try my hand at Bacon Spagetti. ;-)  Once I get that down, I may even take on your U.P. Famous Pizza Pasties!!!

Just Tidying Up A Bit

Please forgive all of these random posts. I've been working on cleaning up the layout of our blog a bit by posting to create links for some of our info. Likely there is an easier way to do this, but I feel pretty "techy" just knowing how to do it this way! :D

Elizabeth's Reading Picks

The Bible

Paula the Waldensian
The Millers series
Jesus Freaks

Joshua's Reading Picks

How Things Work by David McCauley

Missionary Stories and the Millers
True Tales of Animal Heroes
Classic Tales of Pooh (so sweet he still loves this book!)

Benjy's Reading Picks

His travel scrapbook :-)

Bear Stories
Pathway Readers

Parenting/Family Favorite Reads

The Bible

Child Training Tips: What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young by Reb Bradley
Wisdom and the Millers series
Ten P's in a Pod
Pilgrim's Progress
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends
Teach Them Diligently by Lou Priolo

Making Sunday Special

I borrowed that title from a recommended resource I hope to get soon. I recently read a great little booklet titled, Hospitality of Home Church. In it the author challenged me to tweak my thinking about our Sunday worship preparations. Here's a quote:

"...look at your week as sort of a wave, with the high part of the wave being Sunday when your church body gathers. That is the highlight of your week. From Sunday to Wednesday you refelct on Sunday. From Wednesday to Sunday you prepare for Sunday. How often are we rushing around on Sunday doing things that could have been done Thursday, Friday or Saturday? Write down those things that need to be done and space them out from Wednesday to Sunday. I believe we need to practice 'making Sunday special'..."

So, here's my first attempt at our Making Sunday Special List. I know that as we keep learning and growing in our new home church meetings we'll want to adjust and change, but I'm excited to have a new focus for our week.

Reflection Time
Sunday:
Rest, meditate, pray
Monday:
Update church blog with notes, pics and other details
Email sister-church w/ prayer requests
Tuesday:
Review study notes, hymns, prayer requests

Preparation Time
Wednesday:
Review study notes, hymns, prayer requests
Plan menu/email other families if necessary - Tracy
Check papergoods supplies and pantry items needed - Elizabeth
Make shopping list if needed - Elizabeth & Tracy

Thursday:
Review prayer requests, pray for men's study time
Church clothes ironed and prepped on hanger - Tracy & children
Store run if supplies needed - David or Tracy

Friday:
Food prep/Baking for Sunday - Tracy & children
Index cards prepped - Joshua

Saturday:
Food prep/Baking for Sunday - Tracy & Elizabeth
Furniture arranged - Boys
Activities prepped - Benjamin
House tidy/vaccumed - All
Chairs scrubbed - Joshua
Bibles, cards, journals, pencils ready - All
Showers/Bath

Sunday:
Girlies dressed & hair done - Tracy
Meal prepped/ready - Tracy
Trash out - Joshua
Bathrooms cleaned - Elizabeth
Coffee/drinks station prepped - Ruth
Papergoods/utensils prepped - Susannah
Seating arranged - Joshua
Hymnals out - Ruth
Candles lit - Elizabeth
Communion prepped - Elizabeth or Tracy
Floors tidy/swept - Benjamin
Kitchen tidy - All
Entryway tidy - Benjamin & Susannah
Pet duty - Elizabeth
Outside walkways tidy or shoveled - Joshua & Daddy

Daily Cleaning Zones

Sunday - Rest

Monday - Tidy house from the weekend/van
Tuesday - Bathrooms
Wednesday - Bedrooms
Thursday - Living Room & Study
Friday - Kitchen
Saturday - Baking/Cooking

Weekly Menu

Sunday:
B- Granola or Freezer breakfast sandwiches (Jimmy Dean's Turkey and Egg whites on English muffins)
L - Potluck at church - Soup & bread (same as Saturday's lunch)
D - Nachos
Monday:
B - Egg Bake OR (reheated) french toast & hard boiled eggs
S - Fruit
L - Taco Salad OR Chinese Cabbage Salad
S - Baked goods
D- Slow Cooker Pasta meal, vegetable & salad
Tuesday:
B - Baked French Toast or Baked Oatmeal
S - Fruit
L - Slow cooker Soup & bread
S - Granola
D - Slow cooker meal, vegetables & salad
Wednesday:
B - Breakfast Burritos OR Slow cooker Breakfast Potatoes with Sausage
S - Fruit
L - Pasta Salad OR Slow cooker meal
S - Baked goods
D - Make ahead Casserole, vegetable & salad
Thursday:
B - Make ahead Dutch Puff, pinto beans w/ cheese, hard boiled eggs
S - Fruit
L - Make ahead subs or wraps, vegies & dip
S - yogurt
D - Slow cooker meal, vegetable & salad
Friday:
B - Slow cooker Breakfast casserole
S - Fruit
L - Taco Lentils, chips & cut vegies
S - Snack mix
D - Potato bar
Saturday:
B - Omelets, toast or pancakes
L - Soup & bread
S - Popcorn
D - Slow cooker meal, vegetable & salad

This Week's Grand Accomplishment

It was a busy day at our house today. Thanks to our Mousing Adventures, I was able to deep clean behind and around the oven and refrigerator. That rarely happens!

I also finished my overhaul of our basement. I don't know if it's just me, but there is something incredibly daunting about having to clean the basement. It sure does feel great once it's done though. :D

A Mouse in the House!

Early last Saturday morning I was heading out the door. Just as I was leaving I heard a scratching sound coming from behind our oven. I did a search, thinking it was our kitten. Then I realized that she wasn't even downstairs and immediately knew...A Mouse!  Well, I forgot to mention it to David but a few nights later I heard all sorts of crazy goings-on coming from the kitchen again. I marched right up to tell David about our new tenant and he didn't believe me!

Well, last night he was the one calling for me. As he walked into our kitchen he saw our uninvited guest scamper across the counters and behind the oven for safety. EEEK!!!!

This morning we all put on our exterminator hats and got to work. Our first objective was to train our new kitten for her #1 job...MOUSER! 

Yes, well...that training didn't go over so well...ahem. So, next thing we did was get in there ourselves and fill the small hole in the floor with steel wool and set a trap. It was a comical sight seeing everyone crowd around trying to find the mouse house.

We're hoping our traps will work since our Haddie-Cat is having a little trouble passing Mouser 101.

A Thankful Heart!

By Elizabeth Menard, for a Valentine's Tea Party, 2010

As you know the theme of this tea party is a "Thankful heart tea", and I would like to tell you why I chose this as the theme. Lately our family has been struggling to find the funds for our daily needs, and at times it can be very discouraging to know we can not get something we thought we needed. But God will make sure we get everything we need, and most of the time it is much more than we really do need!!I feel so full-to-the-brim with thankfulness, because it seems like every time I turn around there is something new to be thankful for! I know each family has there own struggles, and none of them are always the same. So I am encouraging each one of you to find things to be thankful for,no matter if it is enough money to buy groceries, or just your dad getting a job. I know from experience, that there are things to be thankful for around every corner, you just have to be looking for them.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you Christ Jesus!!

THE  END

Last post of the night, promise!

This is what happens when you have a busy week. You get to posting all your updates at one time.  Hope I don't give anyone troubles with needing to scroll through all my posts tonite!

Just wanted to know one thing before I go...

How many Girlies can YOU fit in a kitchen cabinet???

Winter Fun!

After church last Sunday we met one of the families from our fellowship and enjoyed an afternoon of ice skating and snow fun. While most enjoyed the ice, I kept it safe with the girlies in the snow. There are few gifts as precious as the friendships the Lord gives!

The Early Provision

"She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens."  Proverbs 31:15

There is not much that would cause me to crawl out of bed in the sweet dark hours of an early Saturday morning, especially as it's getting harder to move this baby belly out of bed anytime of the day! However, following the Lord's provision is worth sacrificing a few hours of that sweet Saturday morning sleep.

My dear friend picked me up at 4:45am last Saturday morning and we headed to a church that hosts a food ministry.  When we arrived, there was already a line forming of empty baskets and bags ready to be filled with whatever surprises lie waiting inside. We scooted inside the building on one of the coldest mornings of the year to a hallway lined with strangers who would quickly become friends. We still had a couple hours before the doors officially opened, so we enjoyed some great conversation and shared all sorts of tips on making the budget stretch. I was instantly welcomed and blessed by the common thread that bound each person together there. The need to provide for our families, and the gratefulness of a ministry that helps us to do just that.

I was a newbie and was overwhelmed by the abundance of foods available to our family.  I was also impressed by the efforts of the volunteers and the wonderful way they keep this ministry functioning in and orderly and loving way.

After all was said and done, I arrived home having spent $18 and overflowing our counters with a weeks worth of produce, breads, meats and other goodies. All the day long, I had the scripture verse listed above going through my mind. It's such an amazing feeling to see how practical and real God's word is in our lives.

Tomorrow is Saturday...and we rise again!!

Being 8 is Great!

Nothing wrong with a little Birthday Fun!

A little ice skating...

A little cake...

And some great gifts!

This Momma's Heart was so touched. When I told Benjamin I wanted a photo with him and the presents he received for his birthday (so I won't forget whenever I get to scrapbooking these photos ) he said to me, "Mom, I want my brother and sisters in the picture. They are the best presents I got today!"  Sniff-sniff...okay, still needing tissue for that one!