Menu Plan for the Week of 9/12 (with Winning Recipes)

This month I am trying to get my home in better shape using an e-book that I won in a giveaway.  It's called 31 Days to Clean: Having a Mary House the Martha Way, by Sarah Mae.   I still have a ways to go toward setting better habits, especially in the kitchen.  Executing my menu plan is one way I can keep the positive momentum going. 

Here's what is scheduled for this week:

• Sauteed Fish, Lentil Soup, Baked Potato Skins with Olives and Feta
• Chicken Pot Pie or Chicken Kebabs
• Lamb Chops, Tossed Salad, Baked Rice Pudding
• Salmon, Tricolor Risotto
• Pork Noodle Stir Fry
• Taco Salad, Rice

 

Do you find that menu planning helps keep you on track in the kitchen? 

Contemplating Clean

Apparently, a thorough cleaning of the bathroom or kitchen floor is an irresistable invitation for someone to make a huge mess there. It usually happens within the first 24 hours of me finally getting it clean. This week was no exception.

Such a phenomenon is akin to spiritual house cleaning. According to Matthew 12:44-45, order and empty space can attract chaos and evil influences to a person’s heart. When it comes to the physical house where I live, I wish things could stay clean for a while. But grime just keeps accumulating by the hour.

When I fill my time with too many activities (which I tend to do), the conditions inside my house and within my heart worsen. Actually taking time to tidy my house gives me mental space to reflect and meditate on what God is saying to me. But alas, cleaning does not come naturally to me (and Erin's words remind me I am not alone in this).

As I’m cleaning up spills or picking up dirty socks over and over, perhaps I can ponder deeper truths instead of just being annoyed. One is that I need to come and let God cleanse my sin-stained heart each time I make a mess of it. And since I continue to err, I must keep seeking forgiveness. My reluctance to humble myself gets in the way of this however.

Delving into the book of Isaiah, I see that continuing to ignore the need to make things right leads to very grave consequences. As I wrestle with applying the principles that come from studying Isaiah, it’s helpful to be part of a group of women doing the same thing. Sometimes I think I shouldn’t be relying on a method or structure for my spiritual growth; yet God is currently using the BSF approach to speak to me. I am thankful that He patiently persists.

How is He speaking to you?

Efficient Bathroom Cleaning for Busy Moms

Having a clean bathroom lifts my spirits. However, our household has three little ones going in and out of the main bathroom all day long. Not surprisingly, sparkling surfaces don't last long. When I'm on top of my game, I do a quick bathroom clean up while a child is bathing or putting on their pajamas.
Non-toxic cleaners are the key to this strategy, since I can tackle the sink and toilet without worry. I try to keep cleaning supplies where I can readily access them whenever I am in the bathroom. I've also found that I can use whatever supplies are handy for the job--toilet paper or baby wipes can sub for paper towels; daily shower cleaner works for light cleaning of almost anything, including the bathroom mirror!

Frequent bursts of efficient bathroom cleaning work for me. I am thankful I now know how to keep hand towels off the floor and the main bathroom passable. Once I discover how I can keep both of our bathrooms clean, I will sing for joy.