Home Management Binder - Starting Out

A little later than promised, but here are some promised photos of the Home Management Binder I'm in midst of creating.

The graphics on here come from cutecolors.com. She has some awesome freebies that you can use for personal use and I really enjoy them. The fonts are from my own font library.


Here's a pic of the front of the binder:




Here's the spine:




Here's the back cover:



On the back are more images from cutecolors.com as well as some of my favorite quotes and verses, as well as inspirational ones.

Verses: Ezra 10:4; Proverbs 16:3; I Corinthians 13:13; Ecclesiastes 3:13; Psalm 30:5; and Psalm 28:7.

Phrases/Quotes: "F.R.O.G. - Fully Rely On God"; "God, the best maker of all marriages, combine your hearts into one. William Shakespeare"; "What is right to be done cannot be done too soon. Jane Austen"' Treat Your children as if you won't have them next year. But, train them as if they won't have you. Renee Ellison"




Here's the inside of my binder with my supplies pouch. In the pouch are pencils, pens, eraser,stamps, small calculator and post-its, small pair of scissors and a perm marker. For the pockets, I used some stickers from my crafting stash (that match the colors of my cutecolors.com images).




And that's the outside and basics so far. I'll post more as I get more pics up. How are you doing on Home Management?

Recipe! - Angel Lush with Pineapple

A friend of mine turned me onto this recipe. It's very simple to make and any time I've made it people have raved over it. it will look like you spent hours making it and in reality there is little fuss and muss. I'm not exactly sure how many it serves, but we have plenty for seconds at home, and I know we had leftovers when I made it for a dinner party of 8 adults.


ANGEL LUSH with PINEAPPLE (Dessert)

Ingredients:
Angel Food Cake (can buy or make; if make your own, let cool completely)
1 pkg (3.4 oz) of instant vanilla pudding mix (do not make pudding, only need the powder)
1 cup (or more, to preference) of whipped topping like cool whip
1 can crushed pineapple in juice (unsweetened)
8 fresh medium-sized strawberries (washed, but not stemmed)

Directions:
Pour crushed pineapple (make sure you add juice) into mixing bowl. Next, add instant pudding powder and stir with spoon until the juice thickens. Next gently add in/fold in whipped topping. Set aside. Cut angel food cake into three layers. Put bottom layer on the cake stand or plate and top the layer with some of the mixture. Add second layer on top, more mixture. Add top layer and cover with remaining mixture. Add berries in a ring around the top. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.


NOTE: To make a more diabetic-friendly version you can use sugar-free instant pudding mix and sugar-free whipped topping.


Enjoy!

Updates on Projects

It's been a while since I mentioned projects, so thought I'd see how you were doing on yours and let you know what's going on in our world.

As you know, we began working in the half-bath. It's been painted. I still need to clean up a few droplets here and there that splattered. I also need to finish hanging the shelf and decorations that are for the room. And once more deep clean the floor. I'm hoping to get to all that Tuesday.

I've also been working in my daughter's room. We've purchased almost everything (there is still a huge poster-sized frame for a bunch of photos that she'd like and we need to find a new stool for her vanity or see if there is any way to repair the old one). Instead of trying to find beads to hang in front of her closet (for door), we purchased a flat sheet in the same shade of chocolate brown as the one we got for her futon cover (at Walmart). We wanted some cute trim to dress it up a bit but were having some problems finding the right colors/styles/etc. Last night the Lord directed me to the perfect trim to match not only the colors, but the dangles on her lamp. :) So, I have that project going this week. My mom also found a great wrought iron planter shelf (3 shelves) that needs some work so we have to sand it down and prime then paint it. Daughter has been going through her clothes so we can turn them into the consignment shop and clear out the clutter of her closet. We found a great ribbon (basket-weave style) bin on clearance at Target to hold her pajamas in. I hope to finish up in the next two week so we can take pics and I can move on to the livingroom.

Other than that, still decluttering. Not as faithfully as I'd like, but have been praying for more motivation. I joined a great group of gals on a loop and we are working together to make our homes shine by working on one area each day of the week. It's nice to have a focus to not get overwhelmed. :)

This week and next week I will be taking any extra time (what's that, haha) to work on the homeschool corner, declutter it and clean everything and get ready for the new school year!

So, what have you been up to? How are your projects going? How is the decluttering going? Have you been maintaining? Let me know!

So, that's been life in a nutshell.

What about your home?

We are often taught to live the word, talk the word, take the gospel to the world. It should so be a part of us that people "just know" in their spirits that we are of God.

But what do our homes say?

What if you had to leave everything as-is, walk away and never come back...

And what if a non-believer had to take refuge in your home..

What testimony would your home (and the things in it) teach them about God?



I've mentioned how God is leading me to purge, clean, and prepare. One area is my home. And in that effort, I've prayed often, asking God to show me what things would not glorify Him. It's amazing how much we own that needs to go. God laid the questions above on my heart. If I believe it, why do I not surround myself with those things that are pleasing to Him? Why have we allowed excess to show our distrust? Why have we not prepared to occupy until He comes? How come I have not been a good steward and prepared for emergencies?

A lot to think about, and a lot of conviction laid on my heart.

Today has been a day of acknowledging those convictions and renewing the strength in Him and refocus once more on the tasks He has set before me.

So, thought I'd share with you and see what you think.

There are so many areas of our home that could be used to witness at a glance, the calming peace of organized homes, graceful and uplifting and praiseful decor.

But we could do deeper. What about our music choices? The books we read? The movies we own? The types of things we display AND hide all give a glimpse into our lives. What is of most importance to us?

I'd like you think about this as you go about your week...take a few moments to pray and ask God to show you what areas of your home could use His blessing and what things can be done for His glory. How can your very home be a testimony to the fact that you love and serve the Almighty God?

Blessings,
Tamara

Needing Prayers

Ladies,

I need your prayers today. I'm not sure what's going on, but I've really been feeling attacked today and have struggled all day with anxiety. I know that fear is not of God, so have been praying as well, but could use some reinforcement.

Today I've worked on homeschool with my youngest, and took a nap with him (he had a headache, so we rested a bit before lessons). I've got to do some housework, but just am having trouble functioning a bit.

I guess it's one of "those" days we talked about before.

Thanks for listening.

Tamara

How to Love Your Husbands

Today I was wondering what we could talk about as I went about my internet business. I came across a great blog posted by a friend and thinks it works perfectly here!

While she talks about homeschooling moms, all of us wives are keepers of our husbands' hearts and it's our Godly duty to lift them up before Him and while we are here, to love them above all others God has placed in our lives. We chose them! :)

So, without much ado, I will simply share the link and hope that you find some great ideas for loving your husband.

How To Love Our Husbands

Enjoy and pray as you think of ways to bless your husband.

And don't forget to come back if you have some fabulous ideas! We can all learn some things from each other. :)

Blessings,
Tamara

Be Still...

To-Do List:
1) Take suit to dry cleaners
2) Help Billy with his math problems
3) Create lesson plans for the upcoming week
4) Take the cat to vet for vaccination
5) So on, and so on, and so on


Does this look familiar to you?

If you're like me then you are the ultimate list maker. There have been times I've had lists of lists! I kid you not. Lately, there have been more lists than I can think of because I've worried about forgetting something with so much on my plate.

However, the Lord opened my eyes to something missing from each of these to-do lists.

Time with Him.

I'm not talking about spending hours and hours each morning (or even a half hour if you're a mom of young children). I'm talking about just taking a breath and opening your heart and mind to Him and His love throughout the whole day.

It has taken some time, but I've finally learned that when I stop and ask Him what He wants me to do, somehow it all gets accomplished and I feel more peace as I do it.

That small voice will gently nudge me and tell me what is a distraction, what is not going to help me fulfill His purpose in my life that day. He is so good and He does care about us so much if we will but sit and listen.

Having a good block of time to pray and seek God is desirable--for us moms it's just not always possible. We hit the floor running and we don't stop until we fall into bed exhausted because we are playing catch up from our procrastination and distractions. We then realize another day went by without that block of time and we feel bad (self-condemnation) and determine to do it the next day only to repeat the cycle. If you're like me, then you feel like you aren't a "good Christian" if you can't get that solid block of time in your prayer closet.

Last year I was crying out to God, asking Him to show me how to find that block of time in midst of everyday life. I'd like to share a verse laid on my heart that really changed my life and my relationship with God during these precious years...

I Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) - Pray without ceasing.


While we moms have a hard time being "still", I think a lot of this is to be still in our thoughts and hearts. We can pray while we do the dishes, or even scrub the toilets. A moment of prayer when we toss a load of laundry into the washer. Thank Him when you wipe that little nose or when you have to vacuum up the mess left behind from the art project your child worked on.

There are so many opportunities during the day to seek Him, to praise Him if we but open our eyes. And we will be following Scripture by praying throughout the day, not just once then going on our way.

When we can do this, it strengthens us throughout the day too. We feel that connection no matter what we are doing and have opened the door to allow God into every aspect of our lives, not just the prayer closet. He can show us times to stop and play, times to stop and rest. When we lean on His understanding and not our own there are so many good things we can do that will glorify Him.

We just need to remember, it's not about us--it's about Him.

When we focus on what we did or didn't do--beat ourselves up mentally--then our focus is not on Him. We are thinking about our flesh, instead of sacrificing it to His will. We should all remember that whenever the enemy (or your own mind) falls into the trap of self-condemnation. Stop yourself and let God know that He is more important!

Our prayer life is meant to draw us near to Him. We need to stop beating ourselves up and praise our precious Lord for the opportunity to talk to Him throughout the day and use those moments we can to worship Him for all that He is, was and will ever be!