Sunday Scripture

But the wisdom from above is first pure,

then peaceable, gentle, open to reason,

full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere

James 3:17

I Could Get Used To This

If you read my post on Monday, you know that Kristen was preparing dinner on Thursday. Well, she made the entire meal from start to finish and did a wonderful job!

She planned the menu.

She did the shopping (with a budget of course).

She prepared the ingredients.
She stirred the ingredients together vigorously.

Here's the final product. Chili Grande served in a tortilla bowl! (She also made a salad, but I somehow lost that picture)

She even made Strawberry Shortcake!

And here she is enjoying the fruits of her labor. Andrew's enjoying it too.

The dinner turned out so well that we agreed that she will be making dinner next Thursday too!

He Will Be My Refuge

I've been reading The Gentle Ways of the Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund which is a compilation of three of her bestselling books: Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman, Disciplines of the Heart, and Disciplines of the Home. I am only a few chapters into it, but I am already finding it so inspiring!

I love this passage:

If you have made God your highest priority of all, he is
there. You are learning to abide in him, and he in you. there is
calm, there is peace. He is your refuge, to which you continually run. He
is organization, and living in him you sense control and plan. He is
spirit--your living and breathing, your laughter and tears--and all of it becomes holy because his spirit is
holy. Wonderful! Alleluia!

If this is true, your mental and emotional life should
reflect his presence, whether there's nobody around but you, or kids everywhere:
"Whatever is true,...honorable,...right,...pure,...lovely,...of good repute (or
attractive),...let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). (Yes, God says this even to
mothers, and he never asks anything of you that he doesn't also give all the
ability necessary to carry out.)

And also, if this is true (that God is at your life's center)
then your immediate surroundings ought also to reflect him. Your immediate
surroundings--your drawers and closets, your bedside table, your desk--are the
filmiest clothing of your most personal, private life. Even if you have
ten children, those areas should be yours alone, and they should reflect the
order and peace of your inner life with God.

This is so convicting to me. If my immediate surroundings are the clothing of my most personal, private life, then my personal, private life is chaotic! I obviously have not been abiding in God like I should. But I can take heart because when I abide in Him, He will give me the ability to carry it out. He will replace the chaos in my heart with calm and with peace. He will be my refuge. And then my surroundings will be calm and peaceful as a reflection of what (and Who) is in my heart!

Menu Plan Monday

Menu planning for me has been rather hit or miss of late. I usually end up staring into the freezer at 5:00 wondering why oh why didn't I think to take the chicken out that morning, then I'm left with either PB&J or take out pizza for dinner...again.

But no more! I have made a menu plan for the entire month of August. And I must say, it is wonderful to have the "what's for dinner" decision already made.

You will notice that Kristen will be cooking this Thursday. I have been meaning for some time to have her plan, shop for, and cook a meal for the family, and Thursday is the day! Kristen will be cooking dinner occasionally, and I hope to eventually have her cook dinner for an entire week.

Monday - WEYW (Whatever you want) I'm having dinner with friends, so the kids will fend for themselves.

Tuesday - Shredded French Dip
Carrots

Wednesday - Polish Sausage
Corn Casserole

Thursday - Kristen Cooks!

Friday - Spaghetti
Garlic Bread
Salad

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Sunday - Breakfast - Cinnamon Rolls

Dinner - Greek Chicken Dinner
Salad
Homemade Bread

Head on over to I'm an Organizing Junkie for more Menu Plan Monday!

Sunday Scripture

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,

and the one who gets understanding,

for the gain from her is better than gain from silver

and her profit better than gold.

Proverbs 3:13, 14