FAMILY & FRIENDS: Weekly Menus

Psalm 145:15

The eyes of all look to You,

And You give them their food in due time.

Well here it is Monday afternoon. Do you know what your family will be eating this week? I generally sit down on Mondays and look through the freezer and frig and plan the week's menus. This has helped me SO much in not overspending, having nutritious foods and avoiding the panic hour of 5:00-6:00 p.m. wondering what to prepare. I keep a calendar in the kitchen with what everyone is doing so I know who will be here for supper. In addition to that I have a calendar on our computer with what I make for supper to watch that I'm not making the same things over and over (except for absolute favorites).

Breakfast foods are always on hand--waffles, cereals, fruit, yogurt, eggs, grits. My husband takes his lunch at least 3x a week so I plan for that as well. He likes the Healthy Choice frozen meals (which I stock up on when they are on sale) to manage his portions rather than pack leftovers. My other son and I eat smaller portions so there's usually something already made in the refrigerator for us for lunch. I'm getting used to cooking for three rather than four so there aren't so many leftovers, but if there are and it's something that freezes well, I store it away for a later lunch, quick supper, send home with my other son when he visits, or take a meal to someone who needs one. We have an upright freezer in our laundry room. Here are my menus for this week:

• Monday--steak (left from cookout), mashed potatoes, green beans
• Tuesday--taco salad
• Wednesday--chicken & vegetable soup, blueberry muffins
• Thursday--black beans & yellow rice, broccoli
• Friday--stir fry over rice
• Saturday--dinner out
• Friday--leftovers or pizza

Take 20 minutes or so to look through your pantry, freezer and refrigerator and plan your meals for the entire week. It really is a daily timesaver and stress reducer which we all need.

FAITH: All One, Yet Unique

Romans 12:4-8

For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function,

so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:

if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving;

or he who teaches, in his teaching;

or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality;

he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Today in your church look around and see how many different gifts are represented. Every Christian has something to offer Christ and His church, working together as one. Have a blessed Sunday.

FUN: Saturday Strengths Quest Seminar

Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser,

Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

Proverbs 9: 9

Some people may not think that learning is a lot of fun--it is one of my strengths in the Strengths Quest format that my son's umbrella school has begun. The author of the book Jenifer Fox is speaking all day at a seminar which I will be attending. I'm excited to attend since both of my sons and I took the tests and I want to learn how to help each of us develop, encourage and blossom in the areas where we are a "natural". Should be challenging and fun.

For an excellent article on a related book along this topic, Go Put Your Strengths to Work,
go to THIS LINK.




While my younger son is at a birthday party, my husband and older son are going shark fishing at New Smyrna tonight. That's their type of Saturday fun. :)

FINANCES: Bed Bath and Beyond

...Who then is the faithful and sensible steward...?

Luke 12:42

Bed, Bath and Beyond is a national department store chain that sells just about everything you would need to decorate or update your home. Its inventory is pretty extensive including small appliances, china, toiletries and bedding. You have probably received lots of their coupons in the mail or in your newspaper. If you have one of these stores close to you, don't throw these coupons away. Our local store which is about 2 minutes from my house, accepts even EXPIRED coupons and you can use up to 5 coupons at one time, even on CLEARANCE SALE items. Most of their coupons are for 20% off, some for $5 off purchase over $15 and some are $10 off $30 purchase. Often they'll help you figure out which is the best coupon to use for your purchase. I keep them handy on my desk in a ziplock bag in case I have to run in for a wedding ] bridal shower gifts, Christmas presents, or something that we need around the house as well. Another bonus about this store--if you purchase a gift, they will wrap it for free. When I give a gift to a bride, I also package a dozen of these coupons in a white lace doily as part of the wedding present, particularly if I have given a gift card. It is always appreciated.

FAMILY & FRIENDS: Baby Shower Ideas

James 5:16

...The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Tonight I am co-hosting a small couples baby shower for some special friends in our church. This couple had a baby a couple of years ago who died at age 7 months, then a subsequent miscarriage. Tonight's shower is specifically a Baby Shower of Prayer. Whenever I'm involved with a shower I like to make prayer cards for the baby and the couple. Long after the baby clothes are outgrown, diapers used up or items stained or broken, prayer is a lifelong gift that really does keep on giving. 


I print out at least a dozen prayer verses evenly on cardstock and cut them in similar-sized rectangles. I have done this many times so I tend to use the same template, occasionally adding another prayer as the Lord brings it to mind. I've gone through passages of Scripture and personalized a Bible verse as a starting point for each prayer. The cards are distributed to the guests and each prays the verse sometimes with an additional topic of their choice. I change the pronouns in each verse so that the child's name or the parents' names are in each prayer. 


Afterwards, the person who prayed from that prayer card, signs the back of the card and returns it to me. I have pre-punched small holes in a corner of each card to string them together with blue or pink ribbon. Then I put them in a small box for the family along with a note to the child to read when he is older telling him what was prayed for him even when in his mother's womb. An example from my prayer cards for tonight:

Psalm 119:9-11

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

We pray that ____ would seek you with all his heart.

Do not let him wander from Your commandments.

Help him to treasure Your word in his heart,that he may not sin against You.

This prayer time personalized for the baby to be born is a very tender time at baby showers and usually much appreciated by the parents. I love doing it especially at large showers where the focus usually shifts to the gifts received or the friends who are attending. Try it at your next baby shower.


NOTE:  You could also adapt this idea for a bridal shower.  I have not done that yet, but it would be relatively easy to do with a Bible software or a good  Christian marriage book as your reference.

FAITH: Waiting on the Right Tenant

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

So many changes and choices in our household lately. I had not realized how much a person of familiarity and sameness I am until this week. Another one is occurring tomorrow--our excellent tenant in our rental house is moving out. He has been so patient and diligent for this past last year. We had some trees fall on the house several months ago and he's dealt with construction, leaks and pests so gracefully while we worked to get contractors hired and things repaired. Unfortunately he was laid off from his job and needs to move back home for a time to save money. We are sorry to see him leave but await to see whom God is going to send to our little house next. We've had calls almost every single day since we put the FOR RENT sign in the front yard. Three couples are extremely interested and my husband is showing the house on Saturday morning. We pray in faith that a special single or couple will rent the place since it is my husband's childhood home (remodeled) and we know so many of the neighbors. The sooner the better since there are some expenses in maintaining the house and it's an income buffer for us as well. Waiting on the Lord...His timing is not always ours but we know it will be perfect.

FINANCES: Christmas Gift Giving

Go to the ant, O sluggard,

Observe her ways and be wise,

Which, having no chief,

Officer or ruler,

Prepares her food in the summer

And gathers her provision in the harvest.

Proverbs 6: 6-8

Christmas conversation in August? Christmas is about 20 weeks away. Are you beginning to save for it? or already shopping in advance for it? Many people go into debt in the extreme for Christmas gifts. We purchase a fair amount of gifts for our immediate family, one grandparent (the others are deceased), my nephews and their kids, and a few friends. For friends and extended family, I keep a drawer of gifts stocked from thrift store shopping, yard sale-ing, and good sales that I see. Bed Bath and Beyond is one of my favorite gift stores due to their 20% or $5 off coupons. I purchase items new with tags generally for this (also for birthdays). I personally love homemade gifts since time is more precious than cash to me. As I have time I may make note cards or other small gifts or buy flowers in bulk and arrange in inexpensive vases. I set aside a portion of my part-time business income (piano lessons and eBay sales) for Christmas gifts as well. Let's face it, as children get older, the things they need are sometimes more expensive.

Our wrapping paper, tissue and cards were purchased last year after Christmas and I have limited the number that I send, primarily just to relatives now. The number we had been sending was getting out of hand and with postage now at 43 cents an envelope...it was creeping into our budget.

I encourage our sons to give away things they no longer use to make room for new things and also to do some eBay sales themselves to earn money for the gifts they want to purchase. The older one has a job and the younger one can do outside chores for cash as well.

A little math if you save a little each week from now until Christmas:

• $5 / week = $100
• $10 / week = $200
• $15 / week = $300
• $20 / week = $400

It adds up quickly and can help avoid the January depression when the credit card bill comes in. Commit to do this today and you'll be pretty much stress free when shopping time comes around.

FAMILY & FRIENDS: Cameras

I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all Your doings;

I muse on the work of Your hands.

Psalm 143: 5

I carry my small digital camera in my purse frequently. So often I've seen people or events when I wish I had my camera with me, well, now I usually do. I had it with me last night when we ran in to some old friends and their children who are now all grown up. We had not seen them in at least 15 years and I was so glad to be able to take a family photo of them.

My camera is an older Canon, only 4 MP, not even a slimline, but it's perfect for me for snapshots, eBay photos (business tax write-off) and just capturing quick moments. I may get another one with more MP this year and better quality but I find that the smaller size uploads much more quickly and can be edited easily with iPhoto on our Mac. Each photo then looks like it was taken with a higher resolution camera. I've always had a fascination with cameras and when digitals first came out I was ecstatic--unlimited "film"! Whoever thought of this was a genius.

Both of my sons have their own cameras and capture special moments as well. They're great for creative art, editing, enhancing emails and newsletters, graphics, etc. You can take as many photos as you want and maybe save only 2-3 of the best ones. I remember shooting 150 photos for my older son's graduation picture. Three of those were excellent. Every now and then I upload shots to our local Sam's Club and have prints made of some of my favorites from the year. It's much cheaper and better quality than printing on our printer and can also be made into photo books online. I may try that this year. Mostly though, I store them on CDs or on the computer. One of my nephews gave me a digital photo frame last year for Christmas and it is one of my favorite gifts since I can load 100+ photos on it and they rotate. Photos make special moments more fun to remember and the smiling faces of those we love are always with us in our family room. :)

FAITH: Blessed Be Your Name

Blessed Be Your Name

Matt Redman

Blessed be Your name

In the land that is plentiful

Where the streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place

Though I walk through the wilderness

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll

turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me

When the world's 'all as it should be'

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

though there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll

turn back to praise

When the darkness closes in, Lord

Still I will say...

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your name

Blessed be the name of the Lord

Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away

You give and take away

My heart will choose to say

Lord Blessed be Your name

FUN: Saturday Quiet Fun

There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven—

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

We helped our older son move into a house with some other college guys for the school year closer to his college. Not actually fun, but I cherish any moments being with him and helping him whenever they come now that he's gotten older (20). It's a whole new adventure for him to live outside of our home and a slightly smaller nest now for me. Bittersweet, to be sure, but it is time.

After we were finished with the move my husband and I went in our pool for a little while to cool off and tonight we are taking a picnic supper to a local park with a lake to have dinner and watch the sunset. It's as much for time together (our other son is at a sleepover) as to get our minds off of the move and the big change in our lives that occurred today. It's always fun to be outside on summer evenings, minus mosquitoes. We used to have lots of picnics when the kids were younger. We'll probably walk and and windowshop as well. It will be a quiet evening.