Pallet for Home

Several days ago I had a dream, and I heard these words, "The purposes of God always outlast the plans of men." Today I found that in Scripture!

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

If you have plans that have gone by the wayside, it might be the greatest thing that ever happened to you! Now God's plans can prevail!

Does that mean we don't plan or set goals?  Absolutely not!  We just plan with flexibility and a realization that life requires adaptation! 

Here are some tools I've used over the years to help with my planning and goal setting:

The Family Calendar: 
I purchase the large desk variety every December, and every activity that affects the family is written on this calendar.  It hangs on the wall in the kitchen and when making plans it is the first place I go!  (Hint: Make sure you can access yours while on the telephone.)

They aren't expensive; in fact, this year I found mine at the Dollar Spot at Target!

The Household Control Journal: 
I had never even heard of a control journal until a few years ago, and never knew anyone who used them until I became a homeschooling mom.  These homemade or premade binders can contain all the basic information needed to run your home.  They can be as simple or complex as you need.  I've found over the years that the more simple I keep my journal, the more I will use it. 


FishMama told about hers here.

FlyLady explains her system here.

And, in my next post, I'll give you a close encounter with my own!

My Personal Journal:
I've always been a fan of journaling, because I've always had something to say.  (Just bein' real here!) 

In the morning, spend a few quiet moments organizing your thoughts on paper.  Include the date, how you are feeling physically or emotionally, and what your goals are for the day.

Write down any Scriptures or inspirational quotes that are on your heart, and explain why these things inspire you.

Capture those cute expressions, first words, or humorous little events your children are experiencing throughout the day.  These are great to go back to when they're grown and about to leave the house, and they can be used in scrapbooks, and notes you write to your children as well.

Keep a list of answered prayers and prayer requests.

Journal your household spending, personal expenses, and other costs to track where your money is going.

These are just a few of the things I do to stay organized and keep focused on my goals.  What tricks or tips do you use to stay on track?

²⁰ He who walks with wise men will be wise,
      But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
       (Proverbs 13:20, New King James Version)

Today's wisdom comes from Parenting Today's Teens with Mark Gregston:

"The latest “Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth” (by the Josephson Institute of Ethics) shows that teens are lying more often, and more easily, than ever.

Dishonesty may seem like a minor issue in comparison to other adolescent problems like drug abuse or sexual promiscuity, but it is a vice that parents should never ignore or allow to creep into the teen’s lifestyle.

Dishonesty is rooted in an attitude of disrespect; disrespect for others, for authority, and for your family’s values. It won’t go away with the mere passage of time. It will reappear at significant stress points in your child’s life, and that can land them in real trouble. So, deal immediately with every instance of dishonesty today, and you’ll be avoiding bigger problems tomorrow."

To hear the podcast, follow this link.  If you're dealing with being dishonest yourself, you can have a fresh start.  Ask the Lord to deliver you from lying and dishonesty, and make a choice to be truthful, especially with those who care for you.

I received the following in an email this week:
    
     "We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with my kids, a good dinner with a man who makes me happy, and a piece of chocolate with my friends..

With time, we gain weight because we accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.


Beginning today, when I look at my self in the mirror I will think, 'Good grief, look how smart I am!'"

I just read a great article by Wayne Greene, Editorial Writer for the Tulsa World.  While I usually don't endorse most editorials printed by the "Tulsa WorldLY" as we call them, this one had some rather interesting facts considering I'm doing the Pantry challenge.

Greene writes:

"One in five Oklahoma children is at risk of going to bed hungry tonight.

In November the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service said that 14 percent of Oklahoma residents are "food insecure," meaning they lack consistent access to adequate amounts of nutritious food. Of those, 5.9 percent are in the agency's most severe level, "very low food secure."

That means Oklahoma is the fourth hungriest state in the nation. " 

I really had no idea it was that bad here. And we have such an abundance, even with a limited grocery budget for the next few weeks!  So, I've decided that a portion of my savings from the Challenge will go to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, who according to the article cited above, used a large donation of wonton wrappers to make lasagna, which I had no idea could be done.  Talk about creative! (Here's a recipe link to a similar dish that sounds great, minus the pork.)

The menu here for the last few days has been:
Breakfasts of cereal with milk and fresh juice, or homemade pancakes with milk and fresh juice
Snacks of leftover Cranberry Orange muffins or oranges
Lunches of nachos or green salads with turkey
Dinners of homemade cheese/veggie pizza with salads and homemade beef stew with crackers.

We'll have homemade sausage balls tonight along with a cheese ball and crackers I picked up last week, plus fresh salsa (free w/ coupons) and chips and whatever the other partygoers bring. 

Have a safe and merry New Year's Eve!  I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone did this week with the wrap-up posts coming on Saturday!

I had a private struggle this morning.  Actually, it began a few days ago.  I had gathered several high value free~item coupons recently, but after using a few of them, I noticed that they said "one per customer:"  I was convicted not to use the remainder of them, but really struggled with throwing them away!  It probably sounds silly, but I had a real battle with my flesh over obeying what I felt was a clear leading from the Lord.

This morning, during my prayer time, I threw them in the trash.  I was still struggling, but decided that obedience with struggling (and admitting that I was having a hard time being willing) was better than not obeying!

I asked the Lord to prove Himself to me today, and to give me a blessing to replace what I felt I had "lost."

He ALWAYS proves Himself, and goes beyond what we could have imagined.

Tonight, we celebrated "family Christmas" with our daughter still living at home, and with our adult daughter who will not be able to join us for Christmas this year.  It's always a special time for my husband and I, when we can all be together, since we only have the two daughters and we don't see our older daughter as often as we would like.

We decided to eat out because our plans were in flux until the last moment.  I didn't mind, as I knew the restaurant had a fireplace and I was hoping we would be able to sit near there to enjoy our meal.

We arrived at the restaurant to find that the room with the fireplace was completely unoccupied!  We asked for and received a table in meeting room, where the light from the fireplace, Christmas tree, and a few wall sconces cast a cozy glow.  The wait staff provided excellent service, and even blessed us with complementary desserts after our delicious meal!

It was as if the room had been reserved for us alone.

The manager even came back to check on our meal, and make sure everything was to our liking.  She said that they thought the meeting room was booked for tonight, but realized that the room was actually reserved for tomorrow night!  We had the room to ourselves for the whole evening.

We had amazing favor and a truly special evening together.  I'm sure it's something my family will never forget!

Thank You, Lord, for the blessing of Your favor!  Thank You for proving Yourself to me once again.