Books We've Read in January 2019

 

Hi, Friends! Today, I am participating in a collaboration to share the books we've read in the month of January. This collab is hosted by Ingrid over at Mommy & Mia Homeschool Chronicles, April at The Simple Rugged Path, and Lee at Creative 2X Mom. I encourage you to check out these YouTube channels! Especially if you love to read, or need homeschool or Mom encouragement. Also, at the end of this post, I will share the playlist that includes everyone participating in this collab. It's a great way to find books to add to your TBR list!

Family Devotional

First up is Daily Light on the Daily Path, compiled by the Samuel Bagster Family. I recently wrote a review on a different version, but my husband prefers the NKJ version of the Bible over the KJ, so we got this one. The Scriptures are all the same each day, and we still use the other book for the family ideas at the beginning of each month.

Personal Reading

For my personal reading, I am reading Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good from Jan Karon's Mitford series. This is book #12 in that series, and yes, I've read all of the previous books. Now, I know these books are somewhat predictable, but I have been just loving this series! They are wonderful when you need a feel-good, cozy read. The writing is good, and the characters are very well developed in my opinion.

The first book introduces you to a 60-year-old Episcopalian priest to a parish in small-town Mitford. The focus of the series is following Father Tim through his life in this town. His work, his home, his interactions with the people of the town. There are 2 more in this series after this.

Watership Down, by Richard Adams. This is a book my 13-year-old is currently reading. However, I did read it ahead of him, and I have to say, it's one of the best fiction books I've read in quite awhile! A group of rabbits rebelliously leave their warren because they believe danger is coming. They initially tried to get the whole warren to go, but the warren's leadership was having none of it. In fact, they tried to stop the group and chased them down until they lost them. This story tells the adventures of this group of rabbits on their journey to get away from the danger and find their own home. It is a really sweet book, although mildly violent at times during confrontations with hostile rabbits. I can say, I will never look at rabbits the same!

My 13-year-old son is really enjoying it and constantly extends his extra reading time to read "just a little more."

School and Read-Alouds

First up for the kids, is Henry and the Paper Route, by Beverly Cleary. My 10-year-old is currently reading through the Henry Huggins series for his extra reading during school. These books are about 11-year-old Henry, his dog, his friends, and all their adventures. My son is really enjoying these books! I think with the similar age, there's a lot to relate to.

Next, is Augustus Caesar's World, by Genevieve Foster. This is our History read-aloud for the first part of our homeschool year. We are all really enjoying this book. The first time I read this, it was with my oldest, and I remember not liking it very much. Now, both of my youngers seem to be very into this book and this period of history. So, I've really been enjoying reading this to them.

This book goes through the life of Augustus Caesar, starting when his Uncle Julius was assassinated, all the way through to his death. This is done in story form, and is a great way to learn and retain history. Genevieve Foster has several other books out about various historical people, as well. I really enjoy her writing style.

Next, The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare, is our current school read-aloud. This is historical fiction about a Jewish boy zealot during the time of Jesus' ministry. He has joined a band of zealots whose goal is to overthrow the yoke of Rome over Israel. We are about half-way through this book and loving it so far.

Ancient Rome: An Interactive History Adventure, by Rachael Hanel. This book, I bought by a group's recommendation for our homeschool book basket. This is very similar to the Choose Your Own Adventure books, but incorporates historical fiction. My boys have really been enjoying this, and have been reading it over and over while it's been in our book basket.

Next, is The Book of Virtues, by William J. Bennett. I have been having both of my homeschooled boys alternate this with their extra reading books. It is a wonderful collection of short stories and poems meant to teach different character traits. The character traits listed in the table of contents are: Self-Discipline, Compassion, Responsibility, Friendship, Work, Courage, Perseverance, Honesty, Loyalty, and Faith.

And lastly, we are working through The Blue Fairy Book, by Andrew Lang from Dover Publishing. We will read a story from this book here and there, as we have extra time. I really like this book, as it doesn't water down the fairy tales like many modern books and movies do. Plus, we are reading quite a few that I've never even heard of before!

So, there you have it! We are not finished with many of these books yet, but this is what we have been reading through the month of January. I will be doing separate reviews on some of these as we do finish them.

Thank you for stopping by and reading today! Don't forget to check out the playlist for this collab, as well as the YouTube channels I listed above! Have a great day, everyone!

Declutter With Me: Living Room

 

Good morning, Friends! It's Monday, and the snow is piling up as I type. How did you all do in the master bedroom last week? As has been usual this month, I did not get nearly as much done as I wanted! This month has just been so full! I'm hoping next month, I can focus a little better and finally just settle into my routines.

It's the last week of the month, which means we are heading into the living room for our decluttering adventures. According to Flylady, we get almost the whole week in our living rooms. When the calendar turns over to February, we get one day in our entrance area.

Half of our living room is pretty much the way I want it, as far as decluttering goes. The other half serves as our office area, and that's where I will be putting my focus this week. We have our computer desk area, as well as an old-fashioned roll-top desk across from that on the other wall. Both of these areas can use some TLC and plain old decluttering. I also have a bunch of pictures in the roll-top desk that still need to be digitized. But, those will have to wait until next month. This month, I plan on concentrating on decluttering and then deep cleaning.

I consider the living room one of the most important rooms in my home, because that's mostly where my family hangs out together. That said, I really want to make sure this space is a haven in my home. Will you join me as I dive into decluttering my living room this week? I would love if you would comment and share your progress with me, and we can all encourage each other! Have a great week, everyone!

Digging Into the Word: Proverbs 1:28-33

 

Last Sunday, I joined a collaboration with other bloggers and YouTubers to study scripture using the S.O.A.P.S. method and post about our study. The next installment to that collaboration has been held off until next Sunday. So stay tuned for that! In the meantime, I'm sharing my next journal entry in my Proverbs study. If you're just joining in this study, scroll to the end of this post and see the list of the past studies I have posted so far. Again, I encourage you do study the scripture I share and write your own thoughts as well.

"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the Lord,

They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,

And will be secure, without fear of evil."

Proverbs 1:28-33

"Then they will call on me..." They are the simple, scorners, and fools of the last section. They refused, over and over, to listen to Wisdom and were finally being met with calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish. Now they are calling on Wisdom. Now they are seeking Wisdom diligently, as they should have in the first place. But now, it's too late. They are only seeking because destruction is staring them in the face and that's what they fear.

They first chose not to fear the Lord, to hate knowledge, to reject Wisdom's every rebuke. Now, they need to eat the fruit of the way they repeatedly chose for themselves. 

Those who have rejected God will be punished. And, as in Romans 1:24-28, God's ultimate punishment for them is giving them up to the result and consequences of their own wickedness.

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Thanks for joining me in another installment of my Proverbs study! Next week, I will be back to posting another S.O.A.P.S. study. Here are the links to my past Proverbs posts.
1-Proverbs 1:1-7
2-Proverbs 1:8-9
3-Proverbs 1:10-19
4-Proverbs 1:20-27

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Workout With Me: My Favorites

 

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

~Proverbs 31:17

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

~1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Happy Saturday, everyone! Today, I thought I would share with you and review my favorite workout videos to get into shape. The first two I currently use, alternating days. The third I've done a couple of times before, and hope to incorporate again soon.

Walk At Home

First, is Leslie Sansone's Walk At Home. I have been doing Leslie's videos for quite a few years now. I really like that I get a good aerobic and muscle workout, and that I've always been able to do at least a mile without a break. Once I start getting into shape, I can do more. 

All of the moves are fairly simple, but very effective. She uses music to set the speed. In this Walk At Home video, each mile averages out to a 12-minute mile. The first half of a mile is the slowest speed, most of the second half is a more brisk pace. Then, the last 2 minutes of each mile is what she calls a "boosted walk," where you "walk like a runner." This includes the option to kick it up to high-impact for those last 2 minutes, or you can keep it low-impact while keeping the pace. 

The workout I have is a five-mile walk (you can choose how many miles you do in a setting). You can purchase this on Amazon, but I don't believe she is currently actively selling this one anymore. However, you can go to her website to see her current DVD's for purchase.

Workins

Next up are the Trim Healthy Mama Workins. I purchased these shortly after they came out a year or two ago. You can buy the kit, which comes with 9 DVD's, a short information booklet, a poster, and the equipment you need to do the Workins. Or you can just purchase the DVD's separately (as well as each individual piece of equipment) if you already have the necessary equipment. In addition, you do need an exercise ball and a toy ball. 

Trim Healthy Mama calls these Workins instead of workouts, because it focuses on strengthening from the inside out. They really focus on the core, and these are also really good if you are healing from diastasis recti as well. There is also a focus on feminine fit, working out our feminine bodies which are different from men's bodies. This is all explained in the booklet and on the introduction DVD.

These Workins are short, fun, and very effective!

30 Day Core

Third, is Lindsay Brin's 30 Day Core. Again, this focuses on your core. Once I am feeling more in shape, I will bring this back into my routine. These videos are a little longer at about 30 minutes each, and they are definitely the most intense of my videos.

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Those are my favorite workouts, especially in the winter. In the warmer months, I will get outside more for my exercise, but will still use these occasionally. I have heard of T-Tapp and would like to look into that, as well. If anyone has used T-Tapp, I would love your input! Also, let me know in the comments if you have used the above three that I mentioned and what you think. Or, if you have a different favorite workout that you do, I would love some new ideas!

Thank you so much for reading today! If you like what you're reading here on my home on the web, go up to the right sidebar and subscribe. Enter your email, then click subscribe. Go into your email to confirm the subscription and you're all set! You will receive a notification in your email whenever a new post goes up. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Grocery Haul for 3 Days

 

I just wanted to jump on quick and show you today's 3-day grocery haul, since I've been talking about grocery budgets. Today I went to Costco and Aldi. I did not need much, since tonight (day 1 of the 3) we're having leftovers and I still have meat in the freezer that I'm going through. We're also pretty good on breakfast items for now.

The milk is not on the THM plan, but I do buy it for my 2 younger kiddos. They're not fans of almond milk, and I'm okay with them drinking whole milk. They mostly use it for healthy milkshakes for dessert once in awhile. They use milk, frozen fruit, and raw honey. It's their favorite dessert! It's healthy, yummy, and something they can make themselves start to finish.

The vinegar I use mostly for cleaning and laundry. We were running out of our calcium supplements, so I needed some anyway. But, Costco had a deal where they were only $4.59 for a bottle of 500 tablets, so I grabbed a couple of them.

Otherwise, everything else is for eating on THM. Since I didn't have much to buy specifically for the next 3 days, I decided to stock up a few pantry items I'm running low on. Canned green beans are kind of our go-to when we're out of fresh salad and I need something quick. None of us can stand green beans cooked from frozen, so yep, we go with canned. I doctor them up with real butter, garlic, onion powder, nutritional yeast, salt, and pepper and everyone loves them! We will also have fresh green beans when I have time to prepare them.

One of the cans of salmon I needed for a meal tomorrow, and the rest are for stocking up. Yes, I buy the salmon with skin and bones. It's cheaper, but healthier for you! The way I tolerate it is to drain the can, toss the salmon into the food processor, and chop it up in there. When we eat whatever I'm throwing it into, you can't even tell. 😉 Mostly, I use the canned salmon for yummy THM salmon patties.

I also got some salad fixin's we were out of, for lunches (when there's no leftovers) and side salads. And of course, plain old bacon. Because, well, BACON! LOL!

For this grocery haul, I only spent 73% of my budget for 3 days. Which is pretty good with being able to stock up on a few things. I do have a stock-up list, of things we don't need immediately but are running low. So, during the times when I don't need to buy a lot, I'll pick a few things off the stock-up list and "feed" my pantry.

Thanks for joining me for this small grocery haul! Have a great day everyone!

Declutter With Me: The Master Bedroom

 

Good morning, and happy Monday! I'm feeling ambitious this morning (thank you, coffee!) and am ready to continue decluttering my home! How did everyone do with the main bathroom and laundry room last week? I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but I am still satisfied with my progress.

This week, according to Flylady, we are heading into the master bedroom. This also includes the bathroom, if you have one in or just off the master bedroom.

Currently, I'm pretty happy with the surface areas of my master bedroom and bathroom, but there are a few areas that are intimidating to me. One of those areas is...can you guess? The closet, of course! Another area is under the bed. It's not exactly messy under there, as everything is in under-the-bed containers. But, it has been way too long since I've gone through them. I do not relish the thought of pulling them out and opening them up. The last area is the linen closet in the bathroom. Those are the main areas that are a little scary to me, so that's where I'm putting my focus this week.

So, who's with me? I would love it if you would join me in decluttering our master bedrooms this week! Let me know your progress.

Thank you all for joining me this Monday morning! I pray you all have a fabulous week!

S.O.A.P.S. Collab: How Constructive Is Criticism?

 

Good evening, Friends! I have decided to join a collaboration hosted by Ingrid over at her YouTube channel, Listening Beyond the Words. Please go check her out! She has great videos to help you dig in to God's Word. This year, she started her S.O.A.P.S. series, which is the collaboration I'm jumping in on. At the end of this post will be a link to the playlist for this series, so you can go check out past studies, and others that are joining this collab as well.

Some of you may have heard of the S.O.A.P. method of Bible study. Here, an S has been added to the end. So we have Scripture (the verse or section of scripture you're studying), Observation (your own observations about that section of scripture), Application (how you can apply the scripture and what you learned about it), Prayer (your prayer to God), Surrender (something that you have prayerfully chosen to surrender to the Lord). This is a way to take a section or verse of scripture and study it. Each part of S.O.A.P.S. is written down in a journal. Follow along with me as I go through this week's scripture, and you will see how it works.

S

Scripture

"Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." ~1 Thessalonians 5:11

O

Observation

Believers are to comfort and edify one another. The meaning of comfort, I think, is pretty obvious. But what exactly does "edify" mean? The meaning I found on the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary says, "to instruct and improve especially in moral and religious knowledge; uplift also; enlighten, inform."

So, we are to instruct and inform one another to help each other improve in our faith! But, it says, "uplift also." We are not to be mean or rude to others while we are enlightening them. We are to uplift them at the same time we are trying to help them improve. And, we are to give comfort.

A

Application

I think for many of us Christians, it can be difficult to find this balance. It can go one of two ways. We can be quick to point out when we see sin or something wrong. On the other hand, we sometimes remain quiet when we see sin or something wrong, because we don't want to offend.

In this verse, I think "comfort" comes first for a reason. Who are we most likely to comfort (or be comforted by)? People we already have a relationship with! Now, there are times, through social media for instance, that we may try to comfort strangers or acquaintances with our words and prayers. But, tangible comfort? When we comfort with words of love, hugs, crying together, etc. Those are going to be the people we know really well and have already established a relationship with.

And that's where edifying can then come in. Now, if I'm doing something wrong, I totally expect those who love me to call me out, and to support improvement in my life. But, think about it! How different is your reaction going to be if your best friend (who you know loves you) calls you out on something, versus an acquaintance who you see once a month?

Keep in mind, just because you're best friends with someone, doesn't give you leave to be mean or rude about it, either! Remember? "Uplifting also." I think the better you know someone, the better you will be able to find balance in your words of edification to them. You know them well enough to know how to talk to them.

Now, I do think there is a time to call out a person or a group of people you don't know well. The prophets and the disciples of Jesus did this all the time! But, I believe it needs to be done with careful, prayerful consideration.

P

Prayer

This is where you would write out your prayer to God. I did this in my journal, but I'm choosing not to share it here, as it's between myself and God. ☺️

S

Surrender

Finally, this is where you would write what you want to surrender to God. This can also be quite personal, so again, I'm choosing not to share it here.

That's it!

I really enjoyed using this method of study. I had heard of the S.O.A.P. method before, but this was my first time actually using it. As I move forward in my Proverbs study, I'm going to be using S.O.A.P.S. However, I may set that aside for a time as I join this S.O.A.P.S. study.

And as promised, here's the playlist. This includes all the studies that have been done in this series so far, as well as others that have joined in this collaboration.

Digging Into the Word: Proverbs 1:20-27

 

This week, I continue to share my thoughts on the book of Proverbs. If you missed the other weeks, scroll down to the list at the end of this post. As I read through the book of Proverbs, I share with you a section of scripture, as well as what I wrote in my journal about that section. This week, we are on Proverbs 1:20-27. Let's dive right in!

Wisdom calls aloud outside;

She raises her voice in the open squares.

She cries out in the chief concourses,

At the openings of the gates in the city

She speaks her words:

"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?

For scorners delight in their scorning,

And fools hate knowledge.

Turn at my rebuke;

Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;

I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused,

I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,

Because you disdained all my counsel,

And would have none of my rebuke,

I will also laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when your terror comes,

When your terror comes like a storm,

And your destruction comes like a whirlwind

When distress and anguish come upon you."

~Proverbs 1:20-27

Wisdom, personified, speaks freely to all; in the open, in the squares, in the chief concourses, in the gates of the city. She questions the simple, the scorners, and the fools. She asks how long they will turn away from her. Those who hate Wisdom's rebuke hate knowledge. On the other hand, those who turn to her rebuke will be made wise. Whoever refuses Wisdom will fall into calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish. At that point, Wisdom will laugh and mock. Because they have had their chance (probably multiple chances), and they chose to live under the delusion that they don't need the wisdom that comes from God. 

There are so many today that live under this delusion, and their scorning is getting worse and more blatant. From what I have observed, they think Christians are the fools. Unfortunately, for many of them, it will be too late when they realize it was themselves who were the fools all along.

This concludes my thought on these verses. Thank you again for joining me! Now, I encourage you to study the scripture for yourselves and write down your own thoughts. If you would like, go ahead and share some of your observations in the comments! Here are the past posts I have written on Proverbs:
1-Proverbs 1:1-7
2-Proverbs 1:8-9
3-Proverbs 1:10-19

MamaWit's Weekend Links: Winter Edition

 

For today, I decided to put together another post for you with some links to just browse through. I enjoyed writing last week's post, and I hope you enjoyed perusing it! This time, I wanted to focus on getting through this long stretch of winter between the holidays and spring. 

Where I live, we got spoiled for a short time with "warmer" winter weather, and now the temperatures are dropping again! To me, that means it's time to cozy up inside. A fire in the fireplace. Hot cocoa. Thick blankets. Cuddle time on the couch. Fuzzy socks. Family movie. A good book. A nice nap...

Excuse me, was I daydreaming again? I know many moms are chuckling to themselves. Uh, yeah, like that's going to happen! We gotta try, though, right? Find a quiet moment, if you can, and come daydream with me for a little bit. Grab that cup of cocoa while you're at it, or coffee if you're like me!

10 Ways to Create Hygge this Winter by Red and Honey
Creating a Cozy Home for Winter by The Mushy Mommy

Bri's Top 10 Hot Drink Recipes by Briana Thomas Burkholder
Rich & Creamy Hot Cocoa by Country Girl Cookin
Salted Caramel Mocha Java by Country Girl Cookin
Sugar Free Hot Chocolate Recipe by Gwen's Nest
Hot Creamsicle Cocoa by Oh Sweet Mercy

Winter Themed Children's Books by Buggy and Buddy
First Novels to Read-Aloud with Kids by Read-Aloud Revival
My Winter Reading List by Creative2xmom

5 Things to Beat the Winter Homeschooling Blues by The Brave Homeschooling Mama
Visit Pinterest for all kinds of winter-y activities and crafts!

That's all I've got for now! Hopefully, that should help you get started. Yes, get done what needs to be done. But, make sure you make time to have fun or just relax! Because that's important, too.

So, how about you? Are there any traditions or activities you enjoy to help you get through this long stretch of winter? I would love it if you would share in the comments!

Grocery Budget Update: How Did I Do?

 

Happy Friday, everyone! A couple of weeks ago, I posted about my new-found perspective on my grocery budget. Well, the first full pay period of the New Year is over, and I thought I'd post an update about how my new system is going.

Well, I am excited to report, it's going really well so far! I have made quite a bit of progress, and I'm hoping I can continue.

Every 3 Days

With my vehicle, how little I drive, and how close I am to all the stores I use, shopping every 3 days does not affect my gas usage hardly at all. I'm not going to lie. It is a bit tedious compared to weekly or bi-weekly shopping. But, BUT! It's better than shopping for a week or two, then having Hubby or the Teenager stop at the store almost daily for a thing or two I "need." There really isn't a lot that can't wait 3 days if I run out of it. Then, there is the food waste factor. Honestly, I can't say there's been zero waste. However, I am extremely happy with how much less waste we've had these past two weeks compared to normal! Produce is getting used up instead of going bad.

That said, I will probably continue for awhile on the 3-day planning. Once I feel like I have a good grasp on that, I will expand it out to 4 days and see how that goes.

Staying Within the Budget

My goal with shopping every 3 days, was to just take 3 days' worth of the grocery budget with me to the store. Then, I wanted to try and only spend 75% of that. Sometimes I met that goal, sometimes I had to dip into that other 25%.

Results

Yesterday was the last day of that pay period. Today, I get cash for my next two weeks of groceries. Guess what, y'all? I have two days' worth of my cash leftover, with my family eating well and stocked up on all we need! Plus, I stayed on the Trim Healthy Mama plan the entire time. I was hoping to have 25% of the budget left over, but you know what? If I would have spent the full amount and not a penny more, that still would have been serious improvement over how I was doing! So yes, I am super excited with how my new plans have gone so far! Granted, we're not even a month into the year yet, but here's hoping the momentum stays strong!

So, have any of you made any goals regarding your grocery budget this year? What kinds of changes have you made to stay within your budget? Do you have any tips for families trying to eat healthy, yet maintain their budget? I would love to hear from you! Share your ideas in the comments below!

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Thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Routines: My Morning Routine

 

It's been about a week since we reestablished our Evening Routine here in our home. It hasn't always gone perfectly, but for the most part, we wake up with a picked-up house and ready to tackle our day. So naturally, I felt like it's time to put our Morning Routine back in place.

Again, I got out pen and paper, and thought about what I'd like my family and home to regularly accomplish in the mornings. Here, I will share with you what I came up with.

Wake up and get dressed to shoes

This is another one of those things I learned and incorporated from Flylady. Many stay-at-home and homeschooling Moms don't put getting dressed high on their priority list of first things to do in the morning. Please don't get me wrong! I am not knocking this! I am most definitely not a stranger to grabbing a jacket and throwing my hair into a messy bun while running to the door because someone is knocking and I am still in my "lounge" clothes. Or grumbling about fixing myself up because I have to go somewhere out of the house that day. Ahem. 

On the other hand, when I take the time to get dressed (with laying out my clothes the night before, it really doesn't take long), and yes put my shoes or boots on right away, I just feel ready. I don't get grumbly if I have to leave the house. Also, I'm more likely to do those small jobs right away that require me to step out quickly. Take out the garbage. Run a box for the thrift store out to my trunk. Those things pile up quickly around here if I want to stay in my jammies. I mean, who wants the neighbors to see them in their jammies and mom hair?

Make bed

This is like the bedroom equivalent of shining your sink. If you know Flylady at all, you know exactly what I mean. I have the kiddos do this as well.

Swish & swipe bathroom

This is nothing major. It takes 5 minutes tops. With a cleaning wipe, I wipe off the sink and faucet. Another wipe or 2 I use on the toilet. If needed, I swish out the toilet with the brush. If needed, I take another minute to pick things up and put them away. Again, the kids do the same in their bathroom.

Start a load of laundry

Even though the kids do their own laundry, there's almost always enough for me to do a load a day.

Coffee & quiet time

I despise eating anything so soon after I wake up. But, I make myself a cup of THM-style coffee! Then, I take it to my desk and start my morning Bible study. Jesus and coffee. This is the most important part of my day!

Breakfast, meds, supplements

By the time my quiet time is done, the kids are up. At that time, we eat breakfast, during which I take my medication and supplements for the morning.

Dishwasher unloaded and reloaded

After breakfast, I have one of the kids unload last night's dishes. Then, they load up whatever dirty dishes are in the sink and leave it until it's full enough to run. We continue to load it after every meal. That way, the sink is not overflowing by dinner time.

Pick up house

Next, we do a quick pick up of the main areas of the house. Now if you remember, this was done in our Evening Routine the night before. But, morning chaos, anyone?

Start school

Finally, after everything else is done, we sit down and start our homeschool. Meanwhile, during the boys' independent work, I set a 15-minute timer and work on decluttering the zone for that week.

* * *

So, there you have it! First, we established our Evening Routine. Because of that, we are set up to start the next day off on the right foot. Now, we have our Morning Routine, that serves as a launch pad for the rest of the day! If you want additional help setting up a Morning Routine, see Flylady's Routine page.

Thank you for joining me today! And, I hope I inspired you to set up some routines of your own!

Declutter With Me: Main Bathroom and Laundry Room

 

How did everyone do in their kitchens last week? I did not get mine totally decluttered. I'd say I probably did about 75%. I'll save the rest for next month. In the meantime, following Flylady, we are moving on to the main bathroom and laundry room this week. This falls under the "Main Bathroom and One Other Room" zone. That one other room can be any room in your house that doesn't really fall into any of the other zones. I was excited to see on the Flylady site that she picked the laundry room this month. I was going to tackle that this week, even if she had picked a different room. My laundry room needs some TLC. Badly.

Decluttering the main bathroom? Here, that's going to be easy! There's only one cabinet under the sink. That's it. Cleaning the main bathroom? Well, that will be the scary part. You see, in our home, the main bathroom is the one all 3 of my boys use as their bathroom. I do have them take turns giving it a quick wipe-down every morning. But still. It's a place I rarely venture into myself! So, yeah. This will be interesting.

My laundry room is going to be the tough one to declutter. It always seems to be the catch-all in our home. Half of it houses all things laundry. The other half is basically used by my husband as his "workbench" area. So, that houses all things tools, chemicals, car stuff, fishing stuff, camping stuff, you get the picture!

I'm going to be treating the laundry half of the laundry room as a separate room. I will declutter it and then clean it. For hubby's half, it will be a little different. I do not declutter or organize his stuff. However, there are things in his area that are not his that belong in other areas of the house. So, I will take care of those things and then clean his area as best as I can. 

Hubby is not exactly a person who has a lot of free time, and when he does have some, I get that he doesn't want to spend it doing work! So, I will do my best in that room, and I know he will get to his area when he gets to it. I've learned over the years that it will be a lot sooner if I don't nag or harp on him about it. It's one of those battles I choose not to fight, and I've taught myself to look past the clutter and give grace. Because at the end of the day, people are more important than things. How much more so my relationship with my own husband?

So that's it! Let's get to tackling our main bathrooms and laundry rooms! If you don't have a laundry room, perhaps you have a laundry area that needs some attention. Don't even have a laundry area? Focus on that bathroom. If you finish early, find another area in your home that could really use some TLC. Happy decluttering, and have a great week!

Digging Into the Word: Proverbs 1:10-19

 

Today, we will continue our study in the book of Proverbs. If this is your first time reading about my Proverbs study, I suggest you start with the first post. I will list previous Proverbs posts at the end of this one. What I do is just take a section of the scripture, share it, and then share some of the thoughts I wrote in my journal after copying that scripture. I highly encourage you to do the same for yourself. It's a great way to study God's Word. Let's dig into scripture!

My son, if sinners entice you,

Do not consent.

If they say, "Come with us,

Let us lie in wait to shed blood;

Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like sheol,

And whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

We shall find all kinds of precious possessions,

We shall fill our houses with spoil;

Cast in your lot among us,

Let us all have one purse"--

My son, do not walk in the way with them,

Keep your foot from their path;

For their feet run to evil,

And they make haste to shed blood.

Surely, in vain the net is spread

In the sight of any bird;

But they lie in wait for their own blood,

They lurk secretly for their own lives.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;

It takes away the life of its owners.

~Proverbs 1:10-19

First of all, I agree with the commentary in my Bible that this is about avoiding temptation by 1) not succumbing to peer pressure, and 2) refusing even the association that can lead to sin. Do not consent, do not even go with them. "Spoil" is promised by murder and robbery. In life, good things will be promised to us in order to entice us to sin, but we must not give in. As such, we need to avoid putting ourselves into situations or with people that we know will be tempting us to sin.

In the second part, the sinners set traps in vain because they think they are setting them to ensnare others. But, they eventually get caught themselves. Everyone who is greedy for gain, it will eventually catch up to them.

Thank you again for joining me while I dig into the book of Proverbs! If you want to see the previous posts I wrote on this, here they are.
Proverbs 1:1-7
Proverbs 1:8-9

MamaWit's Weekend Links: THM Edition

 

Happy Saturday, everyone! As you may (or not!) have noticed, I decided to slow down my posting a bit. I wanted the launch of this blog to be aggressive, but being a stay-at-home homeschooling mama, it wasn't very realistic to keep up with a post or more per day. I plan on coming up with a weekly posting schedule for myself.

In the meantime, I wanted to share some links that I have found helpful from fellow bloggers. Today, I'm sharing some links that I hope will be helpful to you in your Trim Healthy Mama journey!

First, if you're just getting started on THM, check out my post with resources that will help you get started.

THM Tips, Helps, and Menu Plans

Breakfast Menu for 15 Days of Trim Healthy Mama by Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen
Healthy THM Freezer Meals by The Well Planned Kitchen
THM Crockpot Cooking Menu Session by Mixing with Michelle
Trim Healthy Mama Testimony by Northern Nester
54 Trim Healthy Mama Snacks (Kid Approved) by Northern Nester
The Ultimate List of Kid-Approved THM Snacks by Grace-Filled Homemaking
Trim Healthy Mama Aldi Menu Plan and Shopping List by Grace-Filled Homemaking
Eating Out with a Trim Healthy Mama by A Home with Purpose
Trim Happy Hubbie from the Coers Family
Tips for THMing His Lunch by Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen
7 Ways to Get Your Family On Board with Trim Healthy Mama by Grace-Filled Homemaking

That's it for today! I have lots more share, but I plan on making Saturday a day to share links to what I'm finding helpful. Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Routines: My Evening Routine

 

In trying to re-establish a sense of normal around here, I decided to revamp my routines. Because I'm pretty familiar with the Flylady routines, I am able to do this quickly. Yesterday evening, I decided to write out and begin an evening routine. As I've mentioned before, I love lists! I also love the old-fashioned method of putting pen to paper. So, that's exactly what I did.

According to the Flylady website, the evening routine is the most important routine of the day. I couldn't agree more! When I consistently complete my evening routine, the next morning just goes so much smoother. Not much puts a halt on a smooth morning routine faster than having to stop and do something that should have been done the night before!

So, what is my evening routine? Glad you asked! Let's jump right in. We start our evening routine right after dinner.

Kitchen Duty

This isn't something I usually do myself, but I do make sure it gets done. Since I cook the meals, hubby has made a rule that I don't clean up. Our 3 boys take care of dishes and dinner clean-up. This includes putting food away, dishes, wiping up counters/stovetop/table, sweeping the floor, and changing the garbage if necessary.

Pick up the house

Once Kitchen Duty is done and has passed my inspection, everyone will go around and pick up the house. Nothing deep here. Just patrolling the main living areas and putting things away that have been left out.

Showers

After the house is taken care of, any of the kiddos that hasn't taken a shower yet that day will take one in the evening. They will also brush their teeth at this time.

Lay out clothes for tomorrow

Meanwhile, I will go decide on tomorrow's outfit and lay it all out on my dresser. I don't always remember to do this, but when I do, I swear it saves me time in the morning!

Get breakfast items ready

This could mean a make-ahead breakfast. Or it could be as simple as noting what I'm planning on and making sure there's bacon thawing in the fridge. I will also set the table for breakfast if we plan on eating there, but we usually don't.

Get coffee ready

This is possibly the most important item in my evening routine!

Take bedtime supplements

I have no bedtime medications, but I do have a couple of supplements that just work best if I take them at the end of the day.

Daily Light

If we didn't read our devotional for dinner, we will read it now.

Bedtime prayers

And finally, we say prayers together as a family and the younger kiddos head off to dreamland. The oldest can go to bed pretty much whenever he wants, but he's good about being mindful to get a decent amount of sleep for his busy days.

So, this is the routine that I think will work for our household at the moment. Will it be perfect? Probably not! Will it all always get done? I highly doubt it! But, just having it in place and forming the habit is a huge improvement to the chaos that would normally ensue in the morning. It has definitely changed over the years, and that's okay! It kind of has to with the many different stages of life. You have to find what works for you. 

I hope I've inspired you to make an evening routine. Start small if you're new to the concept! Just like baby-stepping to your goals, start with one or two things until you've got them down, then add another. And, I encourage you to go visit Flylady's Before-Bed Routine page if you would like more inspiration and help setting up your routine.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading. I hope you visit again soon!

How I'm Studying the Bible This Year

 

In studying the Bible this year, I'm actually continuing where I left off last year. I've had a couple of blog posts about my Proverbs study. That's more of an aside to my main Bible study. I started this chronological reading plan from Bible Gateway last year. It's supposed to take you through the Bible in one year. Well, this is most likely going to take me about two years! I'm currently in Isaiah. Being real here, some of that is because I'm not always as consistent in daily Bible reading as I should be. Part of it is also because I'm taking the time to go a little more in depth with studying the Bible this time around, and trying to retain what I read.

The first thing I'm doing this year to try and get on the consistent track is plan on studying the Bible! It gets written in my planner every week day. That way, if things get really hectic, I have that reminder written right there.

Second, when I'm ready to study, I bring my Bible, chronological list, and notebook to the computer. I pray for understanding as I open up God's Word. Then I hop on Youtube and find a NKJV reading of the chapters I'm on. I've found that listening while reading along in my Bible really helps me retain better. I read through the section I have listed for that day, reading the study notes as needed as I go. I also write anything I really want to remember into my notebook.

Next, I go over to the Grace to You website, to see if there are any sermons that discuss what I read that day. If not, I look over any notes I've taken and neatly copy any verses I've highlighted. I set those aside to look at later and memorize. Then, I cross that day's reading off of my list. If there is a sermon and I have the time right then, I will listen to or watch it. I also take notes during the sermon if there's something that really stands out. If I don't have time at that very moment, I'll write it on my to-do list as something to watch later.

Lastly, I will spend some time just being quiet. Thanking God for the wonderful resource He gave us in His Word. Absorbing what I just read and learned. Praying for things that He brings to my heart. Sometimes, I will doodle in my notebook as I reflect.

That's it in a nutshell. I am not a Bible Study expert. I am nowhere near perfect in doing this every single day. Nor do I think my way is the right way for everyone. I'm just trying to baby-step my way to being a little bit better than I was before at showing God just how very thankful I am for all He's done.

What about you? I'm just sharing how I personally go about my Bible study. But, I would love to hear your techniques for studying the Bible! What resources or books do you use? Are there any sermon sites you love? Let me know in the comments!

Declutter With Me: The Kitchen

 

Last week, my intention was to spend some time decluttering our dining room/school room. Because of a nasty cold that travelled through our entire family, I got next to nothing done in there. And that's okay! I'm following the Flylady method of decluttering this year, and I know that I will be back to that area next month. Now that my family is on the mend, this week I will be moving on to one of my favorite areas to declutter! The kitchen.

I don't know about you, but after the holidays, my kitchen can really use a good purging and cleaning. Cabinets, refrigerator, freezers. I plan on being ruthless. In a recent post about my grocery budget, I expressed my desires to have less food waste. Before I can start tracking that, however, I need to do a little preliminary purging. I'm sure there are things hiding in my fridge that have outstayed their welcome. Countertops will be another area to tackle. I like my counters to have almost nothing on them. With the holidays and recent illness, they've gotten a little crowded.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about this week's decluttering zone! I would love for you to join me in decluttering our kitchens this week. If you're having trouble knowing where to start, visit the Flylady website. She has specific missions for the kitchen this week.

I would also love to hear from you in the comments! If you decluttered last week, let me know your progress. Or, let me know if you're planning on joining me this week in the kitchen.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Routines: My Morning Routine

 

It's been about a week since we reestablished our Evening Routine here in our home. It hasn't always gone perfectly, but for the most part, we wake up with a picked-up house and ready to tackle our day. So naturally, I felt like it's time to put our Morning Routine back in place.

Again, I got out pen and paper, and thought about what I'd like my family and home to regularly accomplish in the mornings. Here, I will share with you what I came up with.

Wake up and get dressed to shoes

This is another one of those things I learned and incorporated from Flylady. Many stay-at-home and homeschooling Moms don't put getting dressed high on their priority list of first things to do in the morning. Please don't get me wrong! I am not knocking this! I am most definitely not a stranger to grabbing a jacket and throwing my hair into a messy bun while running to the door because someone is knocking and I am still in my "lounge" clothes. Or grumbling about fixing myself up because I have to go somewhere out of the house that day. Ahem. 

On the other hand, when I take the time to get dressed (with laying out my clothes the night before, it really doesn't take long), and yes put my shoes or boots on right away, I just feel ready. I don't get grumbly if I have to leave the house. Also, I'm more likely to do those small jobs right away that require me to step out quickly. Take out the garbage. Run a box for the thrift store out to my trunk. Those things pile up quickly around here if I want to stay in my jammies. I mean, who wants the neighbors to see them in their jammies and mom hair?

Make bed

This is like the bedroom equivalent of shining your sink. If you know Flylady at all, you know exactly what I mean. I have the kiddos do this as well.

Swish & swipe bathroom

This is nothing major. It takes 5 minutes tops. With a cleaning wipe, I wipe off the sink and faucet. Another wipe or 2 I use on the toilet. If needed, I swish out the toilet with the brush. If needed, I take another minute to pick things up and put them away. Again, the kids do the same in their bathroom.

Start a load of laundry

Even though the kids do their own laundry, there's almost always enough for me to do a load a day.

Coffee & quiet time

I despise eating anything so soon after I wake up. But, I make myself a cup of THM-style coffee! Then, I take it to my desk and start my morning Bible study. Jesus and coffee. This is the most important part of my day!

Breakfast, meds, supplements

By the time my quiet time is done, the kids are up. At that time, we eat breakfast, during which I take my medication and supplements for the morning.

Dishwasher unloaded and reloaded

After breakfast, I have one of the kids unload last night's dishes. Then, they load up whatever dirty dishes are in the sink and leave it until it's full enough to run. We continue to load it after every meal. That way, the sink is not overflowing by dinner time.

Pick up house

Next, we do a quick pick up of the main areas of the house. Now if you remember, this was done in our Evening Routine the night before. But, morning chaos, anyone?

Start school

Finally, after everything else is done, we sit down and start our homeschool. Meanwhile, during the boys' independent work, I set a 15-minute timer and work on decluttering the zone for that week.

* * *

So, there you have it! First, we established our Evening Routine. Because of that, we are set up to start the next day off on the right foot. Now, we have our Morning Routine, that serves as a launch pad for the rest of the day! If you want additional help setting up a Morning Routine, see Flylady's Routine page.

Thank you for joining me today! And, I hope I inspired you to set up some routines of your own!

Digging Into the Word: Proverbs 1:8-9

 

Today, I'm continuing to share my thoughts through the book of Proverbs. Last week, I started with a short intro, which is found in Proverbs 1:1-7. This week, I will be moving on to Proverbs 1:8-9. Please keep in mind, I am not a Pastor or Bible teacher. I will share the passage, then share the thoughts that I wrote down in my Bible journal about that passage. Now, I encourage you to do this, as well, on your own. It's a really good way to dig in to God's Word and really hear what He's saying!

My son, hear the instruction of your father,

And do not forsake the law of your mother;

For they will be a graceful ornament on your head,

And chains about your neck.

~Proverbs 1:8-9

First of all, in verse 8, I think this goes back to the commandment to honor your father and your mother, then things will go well with you (Exodus 20:12). So, just as a gentle and quiet spirit in a wife is precious in the sight of the Lord (1 Peter 3:4), so then, is a child who heeds the instructions and laws of their parents. 

Secondly, I notice verse 9 talks about an ornament and chains. Adornment of ornaments and chains would be a visible sign to others that one is highly favored or comes from a good family. Likewise, so a willing and obedient spirit of a child toward their parents is visible to others as a very good thing. 

Lastly, I can't help but notice that willing obedience and honor toward your parents will be a graceful ornament! Hence, a life filled with grace, as learning to love, honor, and obey your parents can ultimately help you act the same way toward God.

Thank you for joining me as I share my thoughts on Proverbs. More to come soon, as I continue to work through this amazing book of the Bible!

Past Posts on Proverbs:

Proverbs 1:1-7