Titus Two Hospitality

            Practice hospitality!  Romans 12:13 ESV

Don't you enjoy visiting a home where the friendly soul throws open the door and invites you in with no hesitation? They don't care what they look like or the state of their home because their focus is on you! Their work is set aside and they begin to minister to your needs! They may ask questions like.."how are you feeling?" and "how is the family?" They may put on a kettle of water and pull out their special tea cups as they arrange a few treats on a small plate. The world has stopped and time slows down for the next half hour as they practice hospitality. 

The word PRACTICE means to aggressively chase like a hunter pursuing a prize and HOSPITALITY actually means to be friendly to a stranger. I have entertained a handful of strangers in my home over the years but mostly the ones who cross my threshold are those I am acquainted with and love. 

Biblical hospitality includes inviting in other believers as well! 

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 ESV


My mom once said that she prepares her home in the morning as if she were expecting company. I like that idea because it sets a precedent for the day. It shows that I am determining early on in the day that I am ready to obey God's command to practice hospitality. But, I'll be very transparent with you that even with this mindset you'll rarely find my home picture perfect. There is a whole lot of living going on between these walls and if I wait for a perfect home...or a day with nothing on my 'to do list'...then I will never practice hospitality. 

My sweet mama always insists I have a cake for my birthday (sugar free, of course!)

I have a choice when unplanned guests knock on my door and all is not perfect on the other side. 

- I can hide in the bedroom (I did this as a young bride).
- I can invite them in and continually apologize for the state of my home/self which might make them uncomfortable and keeps the focus on myself (I can't count how many times I've done this over the years). 

Or

- I can set my pride and reputation aside, throw open the door and at the same time open my heart to welcome them as I would welcome Jesus! 

"Heavenly Father, please give me YOUR grace to practice hospitality in a way that will bring glory to you!" 

A sea of melons!

"The reason this is no minor biblical theme is because the streams of hospitality flow deeply from the well of God. Christians love the stranger, because we have been loved by the Father when we ourselves were strangers."      John Piper


I enjoyed reading both of these resources on hospitality and thought you might enjoy them, too!

Hospitality by Baker's Evangelical Dictionary

Hospitality and the Great Commission


"When there is vroom in your heart...then there is vroom in your home."  First we have Coffee by Margaret Jensen! (One of my favorite books!)

Friends are a special gift from God!

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The summer months always prove to be a busy time of year for our household. The family birthdays start in March and go strong throughout the rest of the year along with graduations and some construction work needing to be done in our home.  All of this activity has kept this old woman busier than she is used to! *wink*  It's a blessing to have a full life!

 Here are a few other things going on in our home...


1. I am moving a bit slower this year so the veggie plants went into the ground a bit later than usual! But, they are finally taking off and we are beginning to reap a small harvest. I planted several kinds of low oxalate tomatoes,  Black Beauty squash, yellow squash, okra, cantaloupe, red bell peppers, watermelon, Dino kale (low oxalate), different varieties of hot peppers, butternut squash and cucumbers. We also reaped from previously planted artichoke plants, raspberries, strawberries, grapes and boysenberries. This was the first year we harvested white nectarines. Not a single apricot on our tree this year, though.  I think it's getting too much water from the vegetable garden.

Onions harvested from the winter garden.

2. Our bathroom and kitchen have some problems which needed repair. I started freezing leftovers about a month before the work began. It was so nice to have meals already in the freezer. Preparing ahead of time helped to resist the temptation to grab fast food every night.

3. Another holding tank was added to catch rinse water from the washing machine. I've been using 1 holding tank for several years but it would only hold the water from one load of wash. I rarely do just 1 load of wash.   I can now do several loads of laundry and use the grey water from both loads to water my plants. 

4. I stopped by my local thrift store and found a nice blouse for church. I paid around $2 with my 25% off coupon.
 
5.  I am on a mission to downsize STUFF in my office. I don't find any measure of peace when I walk in that room because there is too much going on visually. Busy, busy! So, I went through my first bookshelf and gave away the second row of books on each shelf. I also went through all of my Bible notes and studies and threw out anything I haven't used since I moved here 4 years ago. It is already feeling less cluttered which makes my eyes very happy. *wink* 

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This was a helpful link: 

5 Things People with Tidy Houses Don't Do!

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 6.  My mother always taught my sister and I to not wear our good clothes/shoes for everyday. We were trained to change into our everyday clothes once we got home.  I've carried that practice into adulthood and it sure helps my nice clothes last longer. The same goes with my shoes. I keep an old pair of shoes outside the back door to work in the yard.


7.  My face makeup was becoming difficult to get out of the bottle. I put it in the microwave for a few seconds and now it goes on easily. I was careful to let it cool slightly before I  applied it.

I made raisins out of last years grapes.

8.  I bought a big jug of bubble bath from Walmart to refill my small liquid soap containers by the sink. It's much cheaper than buying new ones. I was buying a large container of liquid hand soap at the dollar store but it was so thin that it would squirt straight out of the container onto our clothes. This works much better.


9.  I normally use Seran wrap to roll out my pie crusts but I was out the other day so I cut open a new small kitchen garbage bag. It worked great! Make do or do without is a great motto to live by! 



10. I knew my husband would have a special birthday coming up this year so I started saving money last summer. I decided a head of time how much to spend on him and then divided it by 12 months. I took out the allotted amount each paycheck and set it aside. A year later we had just enough to purchase a nice gift for him. That would not have happened if I hadn't planned ahead or I may have been tempted to put something on a credit card which would have made life harder in the coming months. 



Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:11 ESV

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 A friend shared this website and I've enjoyed reading how she feeds her family of 5 on $100 a month. We don't eat the same foods but it's helping me to think differently when I am shopping.  

The Fundamental Home

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I made this cheesecake for my aunt's birthday. It looks very professional if you arrange the apples in a pretty pattern. I used dairy free cream cheese for my aunt because she cannot tolerate dairy (like me). 

Low Carb Bavarian Apple Cheesecake


Crust:
2 1/2 cups Low Oxalate Flour Blend (recipe below)
(Or you could use 2 cups nut flour and 1/2 cup coconut flour)
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. stevia
1/2 cup Erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup sugar free honey
1 tbsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. nut butter (optional)

Topping:
2 cups granny smith apples, peeled and sliced (don't slice too think)
1/3 cup erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1 tsp. cinnamon (I use cinnamon extract for lower oxalates)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (optional)

Filling:
16 ounces cream cheese (I used dairy free), softened
1/2 cup erythritol (or favorite sweetener)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
Mix crust ingredients together and press into cheesecake pan or you can use a round cake pan. 
Bake 375 for 8 minutes

Place apple mixture in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees 15 minutes.  

Meanwhile, in the previous bowl beat cream cheese, sweetener and 1/2 tsp. vanilla until fluffy. Add the eggs and beat on low speed until mixed. Pour into pan with the baked crust and then arrange warm apples on the top of cheesecake filling.

Mix together sweetener and cinnamon together. Sprinkle on top of the apples. Place almonds in between apples (optional).  Bake 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Chill before using. 

Makes 8-12 servings 

Debbie's Low Oxalate Flour Blend
2 cups. pumpkin seed flour
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1/4 cup oat fiber (not oat bran)
1/4 cup. psyllium husks, ground fine 

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Happy birthday to our oldest son!

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Broccoli Salad

A friend gave me this recipe to make for our church tea many years ago. It's always a hit and requested at many family gatherings.  I double it for large gatherings. (I will take out a small serving for myself and make the dressing with Erythritol/stevia instead of sugar since I am eating low carb).

Ingredients:
4-5 cups broccoli flowerettes (peeled, chopped stems are OK if small)
(I use a large bag of fresh broccoli from Costco. I cut off the stem and only use the flowerettes)

1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

2 cups grated cheddar cheese (optional)

1 lb. bacon, cooked until brown and crispy, then crumbled (or chopped)

1 cup roasted salted sunflowers (I used a bit less. 1 cup seemed like too much)

1 sm. red onion, chopped into very small pieces (or 1 sm. shallot, if preferred)
(I used less than 1 small onion)

1 cup real mayonnaise

1/4 cup. sugar

2 Tbsp. Apple Cider vinegar

Directions:
Salad: Wash and cut broccoli into bite-sized flowerettes. If using the stem, peel it and chop in small bite-sized pieces. Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Add raisins, bacon, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and red onion. Mix well.
Sauce: Mix sugar and mayonnaise. Add vinegar and stir until smooth. It should have a sweet and tangy flavor.
Makes approx. 8 cups or 16 servings

Pour sauce over salad ingredients and mix well. If you used salted sunflower seeds, no additional salt is necessary. If using plain sunflower seeds, adjust taste as necessary.


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How to clean your stove

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Snoopy hopes if he stares at me long enough that I will feed him early!

SAVED, REUSED AND REPURPOSED

~ Paper towel roll (the cardboard in the middle)...(I wrap plastic bags or tinfoil around them to keep 
   my drawer looking neat) (Or I use them to hold extension cords)
~ Tinfoil (washed and reused to cover leftovers or line the drip pans under the stove burners)
~ Bread wrapper (washed and reused instead of gallon size storage/freezer bags)
~ Rubber bands from the newspaper
~ Plastic type dog food bag (I plan to use it for something messy that I put in the large garbage can that goes 
   to the street. )
~Vegetable packaging for fresh and frozen (lettuce bags, broccoli, frozen stir fry veggies, radish bags,etc. 
   Washed and reused in place of baggies.  
~ Newspapers (I use these to layer (along with grass clippings) in my flower beds and anywhere I don't want weeds.

That's about it for now! I'd love to hear what you have been doing this summer. Have you found time to garden or do any canning? Are you doing a yummy bible study on your own? Did you go on vacation? What has God been teaching you lately? Write when you can!

Blessed to be home!

Georgene
 

Answers to a Reader's Questions on Frugality

I recently received a few questions from a friend who is suddenly living on less money.  I started to put some thoughts down on paper but then decided to turn it into a post hoping my answers might help someone else. We could all use help these days (myself included) with grocery prices rising and no end in sight. I have not 'arrived' but continue to learn from trial and error how to live within the confines of a lower income.

So, here are a few of her questions:

1. What has been the largest area (monetarily) you have had to learn and practice frugality? (groceries, utilities, extras, etc.)

I would say that my grocery budget has been the largest area I've had to learn and practice frugality.  If I exceed my monthly budget it's almost ALWAYS in the grocery area. Not monitoring my expenditures close enough is my main problem. But, if I work hard at tracking my spending then this is also an area that I can save money.

 

2. What has been the most difficult area for you to bring under control / practice frugality in?

Again....groceries!  I still don't feel like I have as much control in this area as I'd like to. I made the mistake this month of shopping on 2 different days without catching up in my checkbook. I sat down to enter my receipts into Quick Books and found that I had overspent. *sigh* 

My 5 week pay periods are the hardest. I had a victory though this past month. I normally keep a running grocery list on my fridge. This 5 week pay period I went through the list and only bought bare necessities. I also relied heavily on what I have in my pantry.

A PRICE BOOK is very helpful. You can add any information for an item that will help you personally. I like to keep track of the date, weight and where I purchased it along with the brand. 

 I take advantage of the store's reward programs, too. Walmart's Savings Catcher program will match competitive store prices in their weekly ads and if they find a lower price they will give  the difference in an e card. I have a $10 balance. I also buy some hard to find items through Amazon and use their credit card which gives me reward points that can be used toward future purchases. Most credit cards offer rewards. Just be careful to track your credit card spending for groceries from your checkbook as if you were writing a check or you can get yourself in trouble by the time the bill arrives.

 

 3. What is your best piece of advice for frugality?

Plan ahead for known/and possible unknown expenses and work these into your monthly budget.

 Make a list of all the categories in your checkbook ledger over the past year. Most will be monthly expenses and others may be quarterly or yearly. You will get yourself in trouble if you only plan for monthly expenses without planning for the quarterly and yearly expenses. Divide those quarterly and yearly expenses by the months needed to save and then add the category to your monthly budget.  You can 'hide' the money for quarterly/yearly expenses in your checkbook under that category name or start an envelope system. For instance, I have a 'dental fund' that I hide in my register of Quick Books. I add my monthly budgeted amount for dental to the previous months total. This way I have enough to pay for our cleaning by the next quarterly visit.

Here are just a few examples of quarterly and yearly expenses:

 Quarterly expenses:
- Hair appointment (I save $25 a month and get my hair done on the 3rd paycheck)
- Dental cleanings (I save $25 a month to clean our teeth several times a year)
- Oil Change (I save $10 a month. Oil changes are approx. every 3 to 4 months) 

Yearly Expenses:
- Dog license (I save $10 a month which goes into a Vet Savings for office visits, vaccinations or dog license)
- Christmas (I have the bank transfer money every month from my checking into a special savings account)
- I used to save for accountant fees so this may be an area you need to set a side for monthly. Now we qualify for the free tax preparation at our local library. 
- DMV ( I save $15 a month for my yearly DMV fees) 

Second best advice is to save something, no matter how small, every month for unexpected expenses (car repairs, appliances, etc.)  If you can't save then you need to find some place to cut back. Seriously! Nearly everyone can find somewhere they can cut back. Check impulsive spending such as fast food expenditures, extra snacks at the grocery store, Starbucks, entertainment, etc. If not, then look for ways to bring money into the home. Swagbucks is a fun way to earn and never leave your home.  Living paycheck to paycheck without saving for unexpected expenses is a recipe for disaster which usual means credit card debt.

 This past summer we had an unexpected plumbing expense that cost more than $500. I had set aside a small amount for quite some time in my household expense fund and by God's grace I had enough to cover the expense. If not, then I would have had to put it on a credit card which would have put a monthly burden on us until we paid  it off.

Here is an example of what I save each month: 

- I take $18 out a month for house expense (filters, garden fertilizer,etc.). Why $18? That is what I had left over at the end of my monthly budget. *smile* (Put this last)

- I put aside another $30 a month for a larger house expense (plumber, new fridge or washing machine, etc.).

- I save $10 a month for vet bills. My goal is for $300 or more since it's nearly impossible to get out of an office visit for less. Yearly license fees and vaccinations also come out of this account. This year I hope to add another $100.

Your savings plan won't work if you get into your savings. Just remind yourself what your goals are! Write them down if necessary. 

It seems like I am always changing my budget because new expenses come up or prices rise and I have to adjust the previous amounts. I will be paying a higher amount for my medical insurance starting in January so I readjusted my budget this afternoon. I have a budget spreadsheet on my Microsoft program which I love! My cable bill went up... I negotiated a lower price but it will change my budget.

I saved the best advice for last... put your trust in the Lord and not your budget or savings. No matter how diligently we plan and save there is always that unknown factor that can throw our best made plans out of whack. Last month I made a mistake in one area for my 'envelopes'.  I panicked! Thankfully, the Lord had mercy on me and had already made provision through another mistake I had made in my checkbook which was to my advantage. (can we say OLD brain!)  Boy, did I praise Him for His mercy.

Remember to give to the Lord's work. Be a cheerful giver as an act of worship. Give to others. There are so many ways we can give...even if we don't have anything left over at the end of the month. Prayer, our time, a phone call, small acts of kindness. 

So that is about it. Can you help my friend and add to what I have already shared?  Is there anything you can think of that I missed? We both would greatly appreciate it. 

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A Typical Frugal Day 

So, here are a few things I've done in my home this month.

1. I am still watching for ways to stretch meat since it's so expensive. I cut the 1 pound bacon packages in 1/4's and use 1 section per week. I either use it in a Frittata or in a veggie scramble or on the side with fried eggs. This way my hubby doesn't feel deprived and it doesn't put a strain on my grocery budget. 

Time to dry SF cranberries, again!

  2. I ran out of my homemade cleaners all at once. Homemade cleaners can save a lot of money in my grocery budget. Here are my favorite cleaning recipes: 

Bathroom Cleaner

I fill a spray bottle with half white vinegar and half water and use this to clean the sink and toilet.

Laminate Floor and/or Window Cleaner
Put in a spray bottle and spray onto mop.

1/3 c.  water
1/3 c. rubbing alcohol
1/3 c. white vinegar
3 drops liquid dish washing soap
5-10 drops lemon essential oil (opt.)


Spot Remover

I keep this spot remover in a small plastic container with a lid and I use an old toothbrush to apply it on the stain. 

2/3 c. Dawn dish soap
2/3 c. ammonia
6 Tbsp. baking soda
2 cps. warm water

A few laundry soap ingredients

NO GRATE Homemade Laundry Soap

I decided to make a MEGA BATCH of laundry soap. I've seen this recipe in many places on the web but basically it's a huge batch similar to what I've made for years.

3 bars of soap, cut up in pieces before you put it in the food processor (I use 3 bars of Fels Naptha or 1 bar of Zote)
1 box Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1 box Borax
2 cups of baking soda
3 pounds of Oxyclean (I use a cheaper brand like Sun Oxy)
1 bottle of Gain Fireworks or similar product (Optional for fragrance)

Use food processor and add in the order given above. Be sure to cut up the soap before you put it in the food processor. You may need to add Borax to the Zote  in the food processor so it won't stick to the blades.  Use 2 tbsp. per load in your wash. I'm hoping this will last at least 9 months for our family of 2 and 3 pets bedding. I'll track it on my calendar.

I spend $1 a month on Fabric Softener from the dollar store. I need to cost this out to see if I'm getting a good deal. I've tried using vinegar but it doesn't get the towels soft enough since I hang them on the clothes line.

Spot Remover

 3. I normally don't reuse tinfoil that has been used for dairy, meat or egg products. But, I had an idea recently to use the opposite side of the tinfoil after it's washed. I mark with an X which side to not use.
 
4. I reorganized my freezer so I can keep better track of what I have. I have  2 'meat only' shelves and vegetables, fruit, etc. on separate shelves. This will also save time in the long run. 

5. I'm so excited that I found a way to dry my clothes faster this winter. I put a drying rack in front of my gas heater in the living room. My wet clothes dry in no time. I keep checking them throughout the day and move the ones that are already dried to the back rung.  If company comes to the door then I throw a towel over the rack and remind myself that this is a 'working home' not a show place. I can't wait to see how this helps on my utility bill this month since I had an increase last month because I used the dryer on damp, cold days.

6. I started a 'soup' container in the freezer of bit and pieces of vegetables, tomato products, meat, etc. that normally would have been thrown away. It's such an inexpensive meal. I love to make a pot of soup each week for lunch. My hubby likes any soup I make as long as I throw a Habanero pepper in. 

7. I've continued to knit dishcloths for Christmas gifts in the evenings while watching TV. This way I get a head jump on next year's Christmas. A friend has been teaching me how to make beanies on a loom. Such fun!

This barn was our home for 1 year while waiting to be approved for disability. We loved it!

8.  I squish my toilet paper roll before I put it on the roll dispenser. This practice helps slow down the speed of the roll. This is especially helpful if you have young children at home who like to play with the toilet paper. :-) 

9. I made Jalapeno Jelly from our garden surplus of jalapenos which I gave for Christmas gifts. Ritz sells a box of crackers with small individual wrapped tubes. I also found small tubs of cream cheese at the dollar store. I was able to give all 3 together as a gift. 

10. I love to cook and bake recipes in bulk and then freeze for later.  I made up 2 batches of homemade pie crusts to put in the freezer. I love to have pie crusts on hand to take a quick Chicken Pot Pie meal for someone who is sick. My mama loves them, too. I also made up a low carb pie crust for us.  I like to make a big meal on Saturday so that I don't have to cook on Sunday. It's my one day of the week that I like to take a break from cooking. I  made a huge batch of meatloaf and froze 3 of them. I fried up 3 pounds of hamburger and divided in 3 freezer bags to use in future meals. I also cooked and then froze a batch of coconut flour pancakes for my low carb diet. Last night I made Egg Muffins to put in the freezer for a quick breakfast.  I like to think of my freezer as my 'fast food' drive through. :-)

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Here are a few new recipes (and an old favorite) I made this month: 

Spicy Roasted Butternut Squash
We really liked this new recipe.  It will become a regular. 

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut in 1 inch cubes (warm squash in microwave for 4 minutes to make it easier to peel)
1 tsp. smoked sweet paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 to 1 tsp. onion salt or seasoned salt
1 tsp. white pepper or black pepper
1-2  tsp. balsamic vinegar
2 tbsp. olive oil

375 for 50 minutes. You can turn half way if you'd like.

My orange tree is full this year!

Cowboy 'Caviar'
A great recipe to take to your  parties.  

2 cans of black eyed peas, drained
4-5 ripe tomatoes (or a can of drained, diced tomatoes)
3 avocados, diced
garlic salt to taste
minced yellow onion
1/3 jar of La Victoria Salsa (medium heat)
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
3-4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Mix and let it sit overnight. Eat with tortilla chips.  

Oatmeal in a Jar 
I've been trying to add small amounts of carbs to my diet to help discourage kidney stone formation. I've especially missed oatmeal since going lower carb 4 years ago.  I put one serving of instant oats (rolled oats would be better but the instant oats were free) in a canning jar and poured coconut milk (you can use cow's milk instead)  to cover the oats. You can add nuts, raisins, coconut, etc. You can even add seasons like a little cinnamon and a sweetener.  Let it sit overnight and it's ready to eat the next morning. I heated mine in the microwave but you can eat it cold, too. Great idea to make ahead for busy mornings with school age children.

Bapa playing checkers with an older grandson

Julia Child's Braised Red Cabbage

1/4 lb. bacon
1/2 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 cup slice onion
3 Tbsp. butter
2 lbs (6 or 7 cups) red cabbage, cut into 1/2" slices
2 cups diced tart apples
2 cloves mashed garlic
1/4 tsp ground bay leaf
1/8 tsp clove
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 cups good, young red wine (Bordeaux, Chianti) or more beef stock
2 cups beef stock
24 peeled chestnuts (I didn't use these)

Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut bacon into strips 1 1/2" long and 1/4" across. Simmer for 10 minutes in 1 quart of water. Drain. Cook the bacon, carrots and onion in the butter slowly in an oven-proof pan for 10 minutes without browning. Stir in the cabbage leaves and when well covered with the butter and vegetables, cook slowly for 10 minutes. Add all additional ingredients (except for the chestnuts). Bring to a simmer on top of the stove. Cover and place in middle of preheated oven. I used an enamel Dutch Oven pot. Regulate heat so cabbage bubbles slowly for 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Add the chestnuts, cover and return pan to oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours more, or until the chestnuts are tender and all the liquid has been absorbed by the cabbage. Taste carefully for seasoning. Can be made ahead - this is even better when reheated the next day! Serves 6 people. Next time I'll cut it in half for the 2 of us.

Snoopy thinks if he stares at me long enough that I will feed him early.

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Save, Repurposed,Stretched or Reused! 

- Baggies, storage bags, most plastic bags (reused: washed and reused)
- Coffee (stretched: replaced coffee taken out of pot that morning with more water. I pour the rest of the coffee into pint canning jars and refrigerate)
-Small paper bags from grocery store (I save these to ripen fruit)
-Rubber bands off of newspapers
-Plastic bags from grocery store (reused for garbage cans)
-Newspaper (Lasagna Composting by adding grass clippings and leaves on top)
-Toilet Paper (I'm saving the very end of the paper on the roll. I take it off the cardboard, fold it and save to wipe down the toilet. It normally was thrown away. As soon as the weather warms up I'll start saving the cardboard roll for my compost pile).


Deepening the Pantry (or prepping)

-1 bottle of lamp oil
-Canned chicken and tuna (3 each)
-Bottled Water (2 gallons)
-Toilet Paper (I'm buying the largest package and then putting aside 4 rolls each month) 
-Canned soup (5) 
-Beanless chili (1)
-Box of matches (1)

Oh... and I heard that Blogger has changed things so that it's necessary to sign up with Google in order to post? I hope I understood correctly. You can always sign up for emails through a link on the side of this blog or join my Facebook page. It really doesn't take long to join Google from what I remember. 

I miss hearing from you girls and what you are doing in your homes. You always teach me so much. Anything new? How was your Christmas and New Years? Any New Year's Resolutions?

Blessed to be home!
Georgene

Learning to Enjoy Life at 57

There was a time, as a new bride, that 'enjoying life' was very high on my priority list. In fact, it was such a high priority that my dishes were often left undone, beds were not made and a lot of my homemaking necessities were set aside in pursuit of fun. My life was lived for what I thought would bring ME happiness.

Celebrating 31 years of marriage

The irony of my self-focus was that it did NOT bring happiness. It oftentimes caused conflict and strife in my marriage because my husband's needs were not met. Or I would be embarrassed if someone showed up unannounced and then fret and stew over what they may have thought of my unkept home. Living for my own pleasure was a sure fire plan for misery, no matter what the enemy tried to tell me.

My priorities changed over the years. The decision to homeschool and run a home-based business forced some major changes in my daily schedule.  Taking better care of my responsibilities became important because I learned that I could bring glory to God in my daily work.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV 

Easter egg hunt

This was a good thing... a work of God in my life... but somewhere along the way the pendulum swung the opposite direction and I lost finding joy in my days. I also found I resented my workload at times. I have sensed for a time that I needed to make some changes.

More Easter eggs

I decided to go on a treasure hunt each day to find God's gifts! A treasure hunt for joy but not at the neglect of my responsibilities. The first change I've made is taking a little break in the afternoons.  I close my bedroom drapes, snuggle deep under my bed covers, turn on my heating pad and grab my newest Christian novel. Yep, a novel! Not a book on counseling, or theology or anything instructional. An easy to read Christian novel about life in a small town with some quirky characters.  This special time gives me something to look forward to each day. I can't tell you what a great pocket of joy this has brought into my life. I am learning to enjoy life again at 57. Imagine that!

It's such a luxury and I thank God for every single minute of it.

There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 ESV

Monthly Sewing Bee at my house

Do you have something you look forward to each day? Does it cause your heart to be lifted to God in thankfulness? I'd love to hear what it is! (Don't you think that even a busy mother with a houseful of children or a working mother can look for pockets of joy in her daily life? )

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A Typical Frugal Day! 
(Click on this link for more frugal ideas)


Here are a few things I've been working on this month:

1.  The summer months are here which means I'm back to my schedule of washing our little truck once a week. California is in a drought so I try to conserve water by using 2 buckets... one to wash and one to rinse. We get fined if the water runs into the street for longer than 5 minutes so I must be careful. I bought a large bottle of car washing liquid at Walmart YEARS ago. I use one capful per bucket and it puts a nice shine on my truck. I have saved a fortune by washing my own vehicles over the years. I keep a little whisk broom in the back seat to brush out crumbs on the floor. I found 2 cloth pouches with flaps at the dollar store. I keep them in the side compartment of the door for trash. 

A fun day with the family at Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor

2. I bought a new pair of shoes last month. I saved the sturdy box, cut off the top and used it as a drawer divider. I keep a larger box in the garage to store small boxes until I find a use for them.

3. I'm finding more ways to COOK ONCE, EAT TWICE or more. We eat tacos once a week at my husband's request. So, I've decided to fry up 4 pounds of hamburger all at once to freeze instead of doing it once a week. It saves time, water and dish soap (only washing one frying pan). I'm looking for more and more ways to make life a bit easier around here as we grow older.

4. I was given some body spray as a gift. I love the fragrance but I don't use body sprays so I'm using the spray as a room freshener in the bathroom. It seems there is always an alternative way to use an unused item. 

Silly grandson! He loves to make people laugh!

5. I continue to buy one package of white socks for my husband out of each paycheck so that someday I will have a full load of 'whites' which will save water and money in the long run.

6. I made one large batch of Atkins Meatloaf and divided it into 4 meals for the freezer. This is one of my 'fast food' meals when I'm too busy to cook.

7.  I own 2 independent cats and one needy dog. I TRY to brush them daily to keep the hair loss down. But, their hair still can be a nuisance.  I keep a box of old sheets, curtains and thin blankets in the garage. I use these to cover their pet beds and any place they sleep. I change the coverings once a week. I shake them out on the lawn before I wash them and then run an extra rinse cycle with vinegar to clean my washing machine. The smaller and thinner material is easier to wash than the entire bedspread or the fee to have my furniture cleaned. Plus, it helps keep fleas under control by regularly washing their bedding. 

My grandson reading Resurrection Egg scriptures

8.   I made this recipe a few weeks ago. My husband thought it was Fried Rice (and I didn't correct him) and loved it. Honestly, I couldn't tell the difference, either. Much healthier than the original recipe with all the carbs.

Cauliflower Fried 'Rice'

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cauliflower-fried-rice/

Ingredients:

2 cups frozen peas 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup sesame oil, divided 4 cups cubed pork loin 6 green onions, sliced

1 large carrot, cubed 2 cloves garlic, minced 20 ounces shredded cauliflower 6 tablespoons soy sauce 2 eggs, beaten

Directions:

1.	Stir peas and water together in a saucepan; bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook and stir until peas are tender and heated through, about 5 minutes. Drain and discard water.
2.	Heat 2 tablespoons sesame oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Cook and stir pork in hot oil until lightly browned on all sides and cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate.
3.	Heat remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil the wok. Saute green onions, carrot, and garlic in hot oil until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add cauliflower; cook and stir until cauliflower had a tender but firm to the bite, 4 to 5 minutes.
4.	Stir pork and soy sauce into cauliflower mixture and stir-fry until mixture is hot and slightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
5.	Move pork-cauliflower mixture to one side of the wok; pour beaten eggs onto empty side. Scramble eggs until cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes; stir cooked eggs into the pork-cauliflower mixture, breaking up any large chunks.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2015 Allrecipes.com

Swiss Chard survived the winter

9. I used 4 Altoid containers to prop up my computer to let the air flow underneath so it wouldn't overheat. 

10. I've made some large meat purchases because the price was rock bottom low.  Hams went on sale for .99 cents a pound during Easter so I bought 2 of them to freeze for company. Spareribs went on sale for $1.29 a pound so I purchased 2 large slabs and then cut them into smaller portions to freeze. I try to buy meat at it's lowest price and stock up. I also use the ham for lunch meat which is so much cheaper than packaged lunch meat. My freezer is full! Praise God!

Saved, Stretched and Repurposed

~ Bacon grease (I put it in a jar in the fridge and use for flavor when sauteeing vegetables)
~ Envelopes (store seeds)
~ Egg cartons,cardboard kind (compost)
~ Vegetable and fruit peels, egg shells (compost)
~  Rubber bands from radishes (washed and reused)
~ Vegetable bags from grocery store
~ Coffee grounds (fertilizer for roses)
~ Water added to last bit of shampoo
~ Leftover ice tea used for hot tea instead of Earl Grey in the mornings.
~ Cut a restaurant meal in half to take home and use for lunch the next day. 
~ My neighbor saves her newspapers for me. I use them to put under the cat box and line garbage cans. She also gives me her coupons.
~ I saved the first cold water from the faucet while waiting for the hot water. I poured it into a bucket on the porch to water the herbs. 
~ I used 1/4 amount of suggested amount of fabric softener. Just enough to help the towels smell good. 
~ Blank back of paper, cut in squares and used for scrap paper. I keep a stack in most rooms to write down notes before my old brain forgets. :)
~ Paper bags from grocery store used to ripen fruit. 

I look forward to hearing if you have captured pockets of joy in your day. I'm hoping we can learn from each other as we find more ways to find joy in this life that God has graciously given us. 

Blessed to be home,

Georgene

John Piper wrote: You are selling your soul for a bowl of oatmeal when you want God to just meet your earthly needs and call that love. That is not love. Love is when God frees you from your love affair with yourself and frees you to enjoy making much of him forever. You were made to know and love God. You know this is true. You stand by the seacoast. You stand by the edge of the Grand Canyon. You stand with your eye to a telescope, the Hubble telescope pictures or whatever. You stand there and you find your soul drawn out of yourself. And for a brief moment you are free from self-consciousness and self-absorption and it is the most full, satisfying, deep, wonderful moment and it will be forever if God is the universe and God is the Grand Canyon and God is the ocean. That is why you were made.