A Simple Life?

 'Living a simple life' is a hot topic among women in our culture who are looking for a way to lessen the stress of their days.  I think we all know what is important in life and that is loving God and others. When life goes spiraling out of control and those priorities get pushed to a back burner then our conscience knows something needs to change.  A simpler way of  life can hold great appeal to a weary and stressed out woman.

White Coconut Cake for Easter

  

 Simplifying  can also help those who deal with limited strength due to chronic illness. When we can't keep up then it's necessary to find ways to cut back on the non-essentials. This is my current motive for simplifying my days. The old grey mare she ain't what she used to be! 

A dear friend recommended I make a list of my primary daily responsibilities and then another list of occasional responsibilities (grands spending the night, taking mom to a doctor visit, etc.) and a final list of want to's.  I took these lists and then ran it through the grid of Scriptures in my heart to see if my priorities matched God's priorities.

We had our first artichoke for dinner

I'll give you an example. I am an older woman so the Scripture below is a direct command to me (it's also for younger women, too).  I looked at my daily and occasional responsibilities and asked if these priorities were listed. 

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to:
- teach what is good, and so
- train the young women to
- love their husbands
- and children,
- to be self-controlled, pure,
- working at home,
- kind, and
- submissive to their own husbands,
that the word of God may not be reviled.  Titus 2:3

You're  never too old to hunt for eggs!

As I look back over last week I began asking myself, "Was my schedule so crammed with my own agenda that it hindered me from teaching these things to younger women...if they asked? (And if I am to teach these things to younger women then I must ask if I am obeying these commands personally). Am I loving (phileo means affection) my husband? Am I practicing self-control (in the way I order my days,etc.) 

How can I change my priorities to obey God's Word?

He will ALWAYS give us enough time to do His will. I've already found some non-essentials that I have set aside so I can use my strength for the essentials.

Ordering my daily schedule around God's commands is the greatest simplifier I know!

Lovely flowers from a sweet friend to brighten my day!

*~*~*~*~*~*

Just a few things to write about this past month...

1. I love THE KITCHN! If you enjoy working in your kitchen (or WANT to enjoy it) then you might like this website. It's a great resource and I have learned quite a few new things. I like to find ways to be encouraged in the kitchen because it's so easy to get in a rut.
                                                                               

2. I try to frequent our local thrift stores because I have found out that they rarely have what I need at the last minute. I keep an ongoing list in my purse which includes every day tops for myself and shirts for my husband. I always check the book section for gifts (I found 2 brand new FOOD NETWORK cookbooks last year that I gave for gifts). I browse games for the grands, small appliances and greeting cards and dishes. This past month I found 3 nice blouses and only paid $8.00. A 25% off coupon comes in our local paper so I cut it out and immediately put it in my purse. I also keep other coupons in the car. I have greater success of using them if I see them in the car while I am shopping. The Goodwill store sends out reminders when they have $1 sales.

3. Our city is on a watering schedule because of the drought. Our public works department gives away a bag full of water conserving items such an hand held spray nozzle to wash the car, low flow shower heads and a faucet attachment that goes on the kitchen or bath faucet to slow water usage! All free! The kitchen sink faucet thingie has a lever to flip that slows down the water so you don't have to turn off your water completely. There were also some pencils, pens and paper tablets. You might want to check and see if your city has similar offers.

My grandson just couldn't wait to swim in APRIL! LOL!!! Poor baby!

 

4. I've shared how I save my used tinfoil but sometimes it's not in the greatest shape.  I decided to use the tinfoil to line the drip plate that fits under the stove burner instead of using a new piece of foil. Hard as I try I can never keep those pans looking brand new.

5. I have gone back to checking the library first before I order a book through Amazon. I saved $20 by checking out a desired book through my library. I was glad I did because it wasn't a book I would have wanted to save for my personal library.

A couple new varieties of tomatoes

6. I cooked my turkey the day before Easter since I was baking a ham on Easter morning. I used this tutorial to carve and reheat it! I sure wish I had seen this years ago.

Make Ahead Turkey

7. Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods. I have small flowers popping up all over my yard. I had some sweet violets in a vegetable bed so I transplanted them to the front yard. It didn't cost me a thing except a little time and it's brought joy being able to see them thriving in a new spot. Spring is the perfect time of the year to check with neighbors and friends to see if they have seedlings or cuttings they plan on throwing away. It's free and if your friends are like me they would rather pass the plants on than throw them in the garbage.

My lilac bushes were so pretty this year!

8. Did you know that a fertilized lawn needs less water? I always dread spending the money on fertilizer for our lawns but my husband likes a green lawn. I felt better when a clerk at Home Depot told me that a healthy fertilized lawn uses less water.

9. I throw the change from my purse into a glass jar. Last summer I let my granddaughters use it to go thrift store shopping. A few weeks ago the grands used it to play games at Bass Pro. This is a great way to do something extra without it taxing my pocketbook. One time our saved change added up to $500.

10. My grandchildren love ice cream Blizzards and sundaes but it's hard on my budget at $3 and $4 a pop. So, we made our own. I bought the ice cream on sale and their favorite candy bar. We refrigerated the candy bars and then cut them in pieces and folded them into the ice cream. They loved it and it was a fraction of the cost.

*~*~*~*~*

You will still be eating last years harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.
Lev. 26:10 NIV

*~*~*~*~*

Our berry bushes are loaded with blossoms

SAVED, REUSED AND REPURPOSED
- Bread wrappers (washed and reused)
- Paper Towel cardboard tube (reused to wrap plastic bags around)
- Rubber bands (from newspapers)
- Newspapers (layered in vegetable garden for composting)
- Black plastic tray from frozen meal (drawer organizer)
- Paper bag from grocery store (reused to ripen fruit)

PANTRY STOCKING
- 1 roll of garbage bags
- 1 can of chicken and tuna
- 2 gallons of water 
- Toilet Paper 
- Propane tank filled
(This is my 5 week pay period so I don't buy many extras this month)

How about you? What could you eliminate from your daily schedule that would give you more time to obey His commands?

Blessed to be home,
Georgene

A Titus 2 Woman

I was blessed to have a Titus Two woman visit this summer... my mother in love! I had the best time with her. We visited thrift stores, knitted dish cloths, talked about relationships, shared Scriptures and baked like it was no one's business! I honestly hated to see her leave.

Mother Stump making a pie!

My mother in love has lived eighty plus years on this earth. That is a whole lot of living and learning in God's classroom. She has gone through prosperous times and lived through times of less. We had a lot of conversations around the kitchen table about how she lived through those lean days. There has been joy and sorrow all woven together on her journey called 'life'. I learned so much by just asking questions.

A mother sharing with her son

There is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom stored up in a godly, older woman. We don't always value what they have learned through the years or we pridefully think our way is better. I've been guilty of both. But, if we can observe their lives (the good and even their mistakes) through the lens of scripture then we will find ourselves richer for taking the time to learn.

Mother Stump knitting dishcloths

 I've finally reached that season of life where I know that I don't have all the answers. These older seasons of life are challenging.  How thankful I am to know godly women I can go to for counsel. God has instructed the older women to teach the younger women specific things. Heavenly Father, help me to be a willing student.

My mother in love bought a similar potholder and taught me how to make this one. 

A Titus Two woman is a gift from God to each of us! They have a story of God's redemption to tell of a life lived in the midst of His grace. How very sad  if we leave this beautiful gift unwrapped.

 

My mother in love taught me how to knit dishcloths.

OLDER WOMEN

 likewise 

are to be reverent in their behavior,

not malicious gossips

nor enslaved to much wine,

teaching what is good 

SO THAT

they may 

ENCOURAGE the young women

to love their husbands,

to love their children,

to be sensible,

pure, 

workers at home,

kind,

being subject to their own husbands,

SO THAT 

 the word of God will 

not be dishonored.

Titus 2:3-5 NASB 

(emphasis is mine)

*~*~*~*~*

  

A Typical Frugal Day 

A few highlights from this past month:

1. I've started picking up some baking items when they are on sale for the holiday season. It's too hard on the budget to buy them all at once. I froze a bag of coconut and purchased an extra bag of brown sugar. I'll use them to make some goodie baskets.

2. I live in aprons at home so they are VERY used looking. I made one new apron before my company came this summer and just made another one a few weeks ago. 

3. I've been making my own laundry detergent for years. I've noticed that it has a different scent lately that I don't care for. It smells like metal. It might be that our city water just doesn't mesh well with the ingredients I use. I don't want to add another large expensive to my budget so instead of purchasing laundry detergent I bought an inexpensive laundry booster. It cost around $6. I used half in this last batch of detergent and it has taken away the metal smell. I haven't priced all the ingredients for a long time but it used to cost a few cents a load of wash. I can't imagine the $3 will add much to the total cost.

4. We have had some cold wintry days so I'm not always able to hang clothes on the line. I pulled out my drying rack and set it up in the garage. I have clothes lines hanging in my garage already. I've started drying clothes inside the garage on those cold days. Not using my dryer saves me quite a bit on my electric bill. My bill can jump by $30 if I start using my dryer too much. I've more than paid for the drying racks I purchased many years ago. 

Mother Stump loves bread!

5. Normally I print out a new budget from my computer each month. My ink cartridge is expensive to replace. So, this month I put the budget inside a sheet protector and used an erasable marker. I put a mark next to the item I paid. It worked perfectly. Now, I just erase it and it's ready to use next month. I put a blank piece of paper over the top sheet of the clipboard, just in case something would hit it and erase my markings. This will stretch my ink a bit longer. I also try to write new recipes by hand instead of printing them.

6. I purchased a nightstand from a local thrift store for $7. A can of spray paint fixed the imperfections. It fits perfectly and gives me another 2 drawers for storage (which is priceless in a small home!). It looked so nice that I decided to spray a stepping stool a long time friend's husband made. I had a can of red spray paint which worked perfectly. THEN, I sprayed a small tray I use to hold a few items in the loo. Spray paint is much cheaper than paint and it looks just as nice, not to mention it takes a fraction of the time to apply. 

7. A few of the grands spent the night this weekend. We played a game that I purchased from the thrift store for less than $3. They loved the game and so did I. Sometimes the thrift store marks their games down to 20 cents. Wouldn't it be a great idea to start now and purchase games for Christmas gifts? 

8. I was looking for a Bible object lesson to share with the grands when they spent the night. My dear friend shared a few options on YouTube. They LOVED the object lesson and we kept practicing the gospel using the hand to signify each aspect. I'll give you the link in case you'd like to share it with your own family. Be sure to check out my friend's blog at Givengrace.

This is the object lesson to let them see what the Gospel is like:

Bible Object Lesson


...and this one is the memorization tool to teach the gospel using your hand:

Memorization Tool

9. Here is the recipe for the Butterscotch Pie that my mother in love taught me how to make. The process is very similar to a chocolate pie recipe I've made for years. This is a RICH pie but very wonderful! 

Butterscotch Pie

Stir together in a medium bowl:

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 cup brown sugar

Slowly stir in 2 cups of scalded milk to the above mixture. (you can microwave the milk for 5 minutes to scald it)

Microwave 4 minutes until thick around the edges. Stir. Take a few tablespoons of the milk mixture and whisk into 4 egg yolks. Then add the egg mixture into the milk mixture and whisk. Then microwave another 3 1/2 minutes. Whisk in 4 tbsp. of butter and 1 tsp. of vanilla. You want it to thicken.

Melt 1/3 cup of white sugar in a skillet (we used a cast iron). Pour in 1/4 cup of water all at once. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF FROM THE STEAM. Pour into previous milk mixture above and whisk together.

Pour into baked pie crust and make meringue by beating the leftover egg whites until stiff. Add 3 tablespoons of powdered sugar to the eggs and beat until a meringue consistency. Brown the meringue in a 350 oven.  Enjoy!

10. My grandson helped plant garlic in my garden. It was a huge help and fun to share a part of my life with him. I shared the different lessons God teaches me from His Word as I'm digging in the dirt. Our winter garden is going to be comparatively small this year due to 'old agedness'. I'm feeling quite whimpy these days! :-) I have 9 broccoli, a bed and a half of garlic and a bed of onions planted. I will be content and I trust it will be just enough. 

...and as your days, so shall your strength be.  Deuteronomy 33:25

Saved, Repurposed and Reused:

- I've been saving, washing and reusing plastic bags, tinfoil and baggies. They came in handy for this '5 week pay period' because I didn't need to run to the store for baggies but instead used the ones I had on hand. 
- SF Popsicle sticks to be used as markers for seedlings. 
- Glass jars (I pour my grease in them instead of down the sink).
- Unused envelopes in bills (to store seeds)
- Newspapers (under cat box, mulching in the garden, bottom of garbage can)
- Egg cartons (I store the larger box of eggs in the fridge outside and use a smaller carton for the inside fridge).  
- Old knit shirt (cut up for dust rags)
- Old hand towel (dust rag)

*~*~*~    It would be so encouraging to hear about an older, 
                          godly woman in YOUR life!                          *~*~*~*


Blessed to be home!

Georgene

 

Sister Ellis... my Titus Two friend!

My dear friend, Sister Ellis,  has joyfully entered into the arms of her Savior this morning! She has finished the race set before. She was faithful to the end. Oh how I will miss her. I am so thankful for her example and her friendship. She taught by example and impacted my life.

Sister Ellis turned 94 years old on the 4th of July. The tribute I wrote below was written seven years ago and I believe the picture was taken in her home about that time, too. I wish you could have known her for you would have loved her, too.

If you look very close at the lovely grey haired beauty above you will see one of the truest examples  of a Titus 2 woman! And if you listen very closely you will hear Jesus spilling out through her words and actions to everyone she meets.

I met Sister Ellis over 25 years ago at a little country church. She was the WM (Women's Missions) leader to a small group of women who started out meeting at the church. As she grew older the meetings began meeting in her home. Her women made quilts for missionaries and the needy in our church and community. The quilts were also sent to Mexico and other states and even to Romania. Sister Ellis continued to hold meetings in her home past the age of 87 years old! Imagine that! How many 87 year olds do you know that are actively serving Christ? We would gather for lunch after we worked on the quilts. Sister Ellis would finish with a devotional and prayer. I was a part of these meetings for many years and hold the memories close to my heart.

 Sister Ellis loves her own children and grandchildren. Her family and home are very important to her and she does not neglect them. But, her service to the Lord does not stop with her family. She also uses her home as a outpouring of ministry to those in her neighborhood, church and beyond. If we look at the scriptures describing the duties of a godly woman you will see that it not only includes her husband and children but she is also commanded to use her spiritual gifts to minister to the body of Christ, to make disciples, to feed the hungry and help the poor, to visit the orphans and widows in their distress, care for the affliction and show hospitality. (This list is not exhaustive to say the least.) She is to be known by others as being a woman of 'good works'. (1 Timothy 5:9-10, James 1:27, 1 Cor. 12, Mt. 28:19-20) This is the life my friend has lived. She has a reputation for good works.

Sister Ellis rarely leaves her home, except for family and church functions, yet her influence has reached around the world. Many of us lovingly refer to her home as the 'hospitality house'. You never know who will show up to visit her in a days time. No matter when you stop by you will always be welcomed to sit down for a cup of coffee and a homemade goodie.

 Sister Ellis cares about the interest of Christ and others.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests , but also to the interests of others. Phil 2:4

They all seek their own interests ,not those of Jesus Christ. Phil 2:21

I found the following quote in a book called, All the Women of the Bible. It reminds me so much of my friend.

".. it is encouraging to know that there are those Christian women - spinsters, wives and mothers - who strive to keep themselves unspotted from the world. Books are not written about their true love, loyalty, sacrifice and uncomplaining days. These precious women are writing their history in the lives of those around them whom they love and serve.  Although, often weary in their task - for theirs is no forty-hour week job - they are never weary OF their task. They spend their lives unknown by the world in their narrow circle of their home within which they labor unceasingly for God and others, but they will not lose their reward. God's eye is upon them as they live out their lives in the orbit of His will amid all the cares, trials and sorrows of the home. One day, when the books are opened, their devotion will be commended by Him who sees and knows all."

***

This is the legacy Sister Ellis left behind. She will be missed more than words can express.