Tip of the Day 7/31/12

99 Days of Summer: Several of you have commented or sent me messages regarding my six month shopping plan. I hope that by walking you through the steps this week you will see it really is not difficult and can actually be a fun adventure. It is also a very realistic undertaking. I am not super woman, I have just developed a system that works really well and has literally saved us thousands of dollars over the past six years. Just like the woman that developed the 30 days of frozen meal plans which works for many people, I believe the system I have developed can work for many of you. Yes, it takes discipline, but it also takes desire. It is something I find very fun and rewarding. I know I am being a good steward of our finances and providing healthy and exciting meals for us. If you have looked at the pictures, or read the descriptions, of the meals I prepare, you know we eat very well. That is my purpose in those posts. I want you to be excited about preparing wonderful meals for your family. So, today is day two of my pre-shopping inventory. I will inventory all of my paper goods and cleaning supplies, as well as my freezer. As I inventory I am only counting unopened/unused items. I do not count the current tube of toothpaste or the open jar of Mayo in the fridge. The time I spend each day as I inventory is about 1 hour. I break it into several days because I have other things to do and don't want to spend all day on just the inventory. It is always fun discovering what I still have on hand and using up the last of items before I shop. This is also the way I clean up the shelves to prepare to add the new supply. I "rotate stock" so that the older items are used first. In case you are wondering, I do not live in a big house, I do not have a basement, and I do not have walk in closets or pantry. We live in a modest 3 bedroom ranch. I use the double sided closet in the family room for a pantry. Floor to ceiling shelves with can rotators store all of the canned and dry goods. I have a small pantry with 3 pull out shelves in the kitchen where I store baking goods. One upper cabinet holds spices and teas. We have a five foot tall upright freezer for meat and veges, the fridge freezer is used for frequently used items like ice cream, left overs, etc. We have 2 hanging cabinets and a set of shelves in the garage for paper goods and cleaning supplies. Toiletries are stored on two shelves in the linen closet. Hopefully, that picture will help you envision where you would be able to store items in your home. Remember, 6 month shopping is not for everyone, but I do believe everyone can benefit from a 1 or 3 month plan. Seriously consider the possibilities. Now I have some inventory to do.

Word for Today, More: As we closed out the day yesterday I was reading the latest updates on my Facebook from friends and saw where a young man, Nick, who we have known for many years, and his wife, Jessie, had their second child yesterday. They named him Joel. I also saw a posting of very close friends, Jodie, Perry, and Madison, who were in a bad car accident yesterday and narrowly escaped serious injury. My friend Erin posted a picture of herself out for an evening run, by doctors orders, with a heart monitor on, as they continue to determine the best course of action for her heart problem. My friend Linda will be having surgery tomorrow for an injury from the serious accident her family was in a few weeks ago. We were awakened early this morning to the sound of a huge storm rolling in off the Lake and were pummeled with hail and high winds for about 20 minutes. The grass is green again, but the plants are flattened. Richard is on his way, as I type this, to the bedside of a dying man, who he has been ministering to for a few weeks. Another friend, Jody, shared the sadness her family is going through as they watch their loved one, Norma, slip away into the shadow of Alzheimers. Because we have they ability to be connected with more people on a seconds notice, it seems there is always something MORE. It can be good, Joel's birth, frightening, the accidents, sad, the disease and death. So where do we turn in the midst of it all. This morning a portion of my Bible reading was the Book of Joel. If you have never read this wonderful little book in the Old Testament, take a few minutes to do so. It is only 3 chapters, but is filled with the hope and promise that God is aware of the MORE and He has a plan. He promises, "His grace is sufficient." He will "restore what the locusts have eaten." These are not just words on a page, they are the enduring promises of the Living God and there is so much MORE if you seek Him. "May the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory, by Jesus Christ, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

Tip of the Day 7/30/12

99 Days of Summer: As July comes to an end and we head into August, especially with the extremely hot and long summer this has been, our thoughts start turning toward fall. For many school will start in just a couple of weeks. I still feel this is WRONG! Summer vacation should be Memorial Day to Labor Day, and I will enjoy all 99 days of summer. Because I am a very organized person, I better be if I am going to run a business called Dee-Clutter, I like to have a basic plan of what my week will consist of. I am at home almost everyday, but contrary to popular myths, just because I no longer have children at home does not mean I watch TV or read all day. I truly believe in being a homemaker. To me this means getting back to the basics. When I made the choice to come back out of the full time work force it was with a two fold purpose, to make my home and teach others how to do the same. I did not like someone else cooking our meals (restaurants), doing my laundry (the dry cleaners), and cleaning my house ( I was ready to hire a house cleaning service). These are all things I wanted to be doing myself, but was too tired to do. Not everyone feels called to do these things and prefers a career, or is in a place in life where it is not realistic to be at home full time. We each have to find our place in this world. Over the past few months I have talked to many women who are desiring to get back to, or learn how to, take care of their own home. This week I would like to walk you through my process of shopping and saving maximum money and energy to keep our home running. About 6 years ago I read an article about a couple that decided to only shop once a year. They were able to get completely out of debt, except for their mortgage in that year. We decided to give their method a try starting with one month, then three months, and settled on six month increments. I have developed a system for fall/winter and spring/summer shopping. This week I will take you through my steps of preparing to do my fall/winter shopping. The date for our shopping is always determined by 3 paycheck months. Usually twice a year the calendar falls out that Richard has three paydays, instead of two. We use that third paycheck to shop. You will need to look closely at your personal budget to determine the best way to finance this method of shopping. One way is to shop for one month, set aside the money saved toward the next month, and continue until you reach the level you want to be at. One month shopping may work best for your family or six months might be the right thing. To start my process, today I will inventory all of our toiletries and personal care products. I have a master list I have put together, it is in my cookbook.   So, now I am ready to dig in. 

 Word for Today, Wisdom: When we hear this word it is easy to think it only applies to the major decisions in life, should I take that job, buy that house, marry this person, etc. But if we understood that wisdom is needed, and can be had, in every step of our life, we would have a much easier time. In the book of James, in the Bible, we are told, "if we lack wisdom, ask, and it will be given liberally." Some things in life we consider common sense, don't step in front of a moving car or walk on hot coals just because a self help guru tells you to. But I believe this is a form of wisdom. As we grow, we learn to discern right from wrong, good from bad, smart from dumb. If we are seeking to walk with our Creator in all ways then the discernment we have is wisdom from Him. The older I get the less I want to make choices on my own. I want, desire, and need my life to be guided by the wisdom that comes from above. Whether I am planning my menu for the week, preparing a Sunday School lesson or Bible study, or working with a client, I need wisdom beyond my ability in order to walk through life in peace. The wisdom I have for living life to the fullest did not come from text books, it comes from the One who gave me life. "Seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of the Father." "The wisdom that is from above." "Get wisdom! Get understanding."

Tip of the Day 7/27/12

99 Days of Summer: Now that the weekend is here I know many of your thoughts turn to shopping. Since we are celebrating Christmas in July this week, why not put some of that energy into Christmas shopping. There are awesome bargains to be had in end of the season sales. Think outside the box for your gift giving this year. Just because Christmas is in December it doesn't mean you have to give winter gifts. If you make your gifts check the clearance bins at your favorite craft stores as well. It may be 90 degrees now, but December will be here before you know it.

Word for Today, Family: Today is my grandson Seth's 14th birthday and my step-granddaughter Sarah's 8th birthday. We only have one month in the year, August, without a grandchild's birthday, but we have a daughter born in August. With 16 grandchildren, soon to be 17, and 2 greats, it is strange to have a month without a birthday for at least one. Along with all of these grandchildren, my daughters have also had 4 miscarriages between them. So, I have four more grandchildren I look forward to meeting some day. Coming from a small family I love having a large one now. The noise and energy when we get together is so fun and I love listening to the conversations, seeing the personalities of the kids as they grow, learning of their interests and hearing their dreams. Our family is not typical in many ways. Four of our daughters are adopted, one is Richard's daughter from a previous marriage, Seth is the birth son of a sister of a couple of our daughters, all of the girls have other siblings (only one boy among them), and yet it is the family God created. We are all different, yet we are one. I cannot imagine my life without each of them. Some circumstances are not what I desire, but I am learning, "all things work together for good." As we walk through this life God places people in our path that may surprise us, but if we get to know them we can learn from them. We are called to love unconditionally. Today I think about where or who Seth would be if Teresa had not taken him into her home. Where and who would my girls be? Where and who would I be without God welcoming me into His family? Family isn't always who we choose, it is who we choose to be to them. "Walk in love."

Tip of the Day 7/25/12

99 Days of Summer: One of everyone's favorite things about Christmas is the cookies. Every year I pull out my recipes and decide which ones I will bake. When the girls were still at home, we baked them all. Now that just Richard and I are here, I only bake a few kinds. It is hard to choose because we love them all. So summer is a great time to bake some I didn't make last December. So, today get out those recipes and choose a cookie to bake. A fun one for the kids would be the ones that look like melted snowmen. Perfect for Christmas in July.

Word for Today, The Road: As you know by now I am a big reader. One of the first poets I remember reading was Robert Frost and, like many of you, remember the line from The Road Not Taken, "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by." One of our favorite activities is driving back roads we have never been down before. We never know what we will come across, but the beauty we encounter is worth it. As we take these roads we always stay on the roads that are marked, we do not venture off to gravel roads where we could get stuck or end up on private property. There is a wise way to travel and an unwise way. Yes, it is the road less traveled, and it can be bumpy and have pot holes, or become so narrow we don't know if we can make it through. It is tempting to give up and get back on the wide highway where traffic is moving quickly. But if we keep our eyes on the final destination, we will find beauty all along the way. On our path through life it is easy to want to get on the wide road with all the fun activities along the way. The narrow back road can appear boring and slow. But it is the path that is filled with beauty and leads to life. It is not always easy to stay on the narrow road, we are tempted by shortcuts or roads that look smoother. But, if we stay on that narrow path we will experience life to its fullest. "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death, ...choose life." "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death."

Tip of the Day 7/23/12

99 Days of Summer: I grew up in the Southern Baptist church. My parents met at Falls Creek, a huge Southern Baptist Camp in Oklahoma, I had perfect attendance in Sunday School the first year of my life. We were always there if the doors were open. I have wonderful memories and lasting friendships from growing up immersed in the atmosphere of the church. I am grateful that it did shape my way of life, my choices, and my perspectives. One of my favorite activities was on Wednesday nights. The denomination has a huge heart for missions and Wednesday nights were devoted to the programs for all age groups where we learned about missionaries. It greatly influenced me and gave me a desire to travel, which is one reason I became a travel agent. Making a move to Africa felt like the culmination of all the things I learned on Wednesday nights. Each July we had a special event called "Christmas in July." We gathered gifts to be shipped to missionaries so they would reach them in time for Christmas. With temperatures in the 90's again this week it seems like a good time to enjoy some Christmas in July to cool off. Let's start the week by planning our Christmas list. Include the kids in this. Decide if you will chose a family in need to gift this year, or a missionary, or Operation Christmas Child, etc. There are many worthwhile organizations to gift through. School supplies are on the shelves already and end of season sales can both bring some good bargains. Let's have a holly jolly week.

 Word for Today, Without Ceasing: We are told in the Bible to pray without ceasing. As we go through our busy days it doesn't seem like that is a reasonable thing to do. How can I pray all the time? The older I get the more I have come to realize that I can spend all of my days with my heart to speak to, and hear from, my Savior. He guides me through my day, showing me which steps to take, someone comes into my mind and I offer a quick plea or thank you for them, a decision needs to be made and I know what to do. All of these things are being in a spirit of prayer. I shared this concept with my kids in Sunday School a few weeks ago, explaining that even as I am driving I can be praying (and usually need to be), this was to explain that we can pray even when we can't kneel and close our eyes and bow our heads. Jesus wants to talk to us, and with us, all day, every day. I have a friend, Miss Cathy, who years ago said prayer to her is like calling up Jesus in the morning and leaving the phone off the hook all day. So, call Him up and put Him on speaker phone. Your plan has unlimited minutes. "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."

Tip of the Day 7/24/12

99 Days of Summer: How wonderful to be awakened in the night to the sound of rolling thunder. Even Sadie didn't seem to be frightened like she usually is. I think she knows how badly we need rain. With the clouds lingering, it seems like the perfect day for a Christmas in July movie day. Choose a couple of your favorite movies, make a cup of frozen hot chocolate, and enjoy. If it isn't cloudy or raining where you are, the sight of snow in the movies might help cool you off.

 Word for Today, Comfort: When the world seems to be crumbling around us and tragedy is around every corner, where can we find comfort? It is hard to even watch the evening news because we can be overwhelmed by the senseless hate and anger of man toward their fellow man. Richard and I love to go to Chicago and have been so saddened by the escalating violence that is happening. Yesterday he shared a news report with me of roving gangs that have created a "game" in which they pick a random person and see how many punches to the face it takes to knock them down. A man was killed this weekend by one of these attacks, 61 years old and the father of 12. The father of one of the attackers said, "he didn't mean to kill him, just punch him." How tragic that someone can defend this type of behavior. We are all just recovering from the frightening weeks of watching fire sweep across Colorado and now the theater shooting tragedy. As the world appears to be spinning out of control, where do we turn. There is a Rich Mullins song that talks about looking for answers, there is a line about following our nose, but every time you turn your head the direction changes. As we face personal lose or observe national tragedy, we cannot look within ourselves for the answers. God alone will offer us the peace that passes all understanding. He has given mankind a free will and we live with the consequences of the choices made by ourselves, as well as those made by our fellow man. But Jesus is waiting to offer comfort. "A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." His heart breaks over the choices man makes. The shortest verse in the Bible reveals His heart about our world and the heartbreak we daily face, "Jesus wept." Seek Him today for the comfort you need. He will wrap you in His arms and weep with you.

Tip of the Day 7/20/12

99 Days of Summer:  I hope that based on my tip for yesterday you have chosen a mini-vacation destination for an up coming weekend. My choice is Italy. I don't know that we will ever actually make it there, but I am putting together plans for us to enjoy a weekend immersed in the culture, food, and music. Here are my ideas so far. I am going to attempt to make some basic pasta. The owner of the little veggie stand down the road says it is easy. She said to serve it with veggies cooked lightly in olive oil for an authentic dish. A stroll on the beach will be like walking the shore of the Mediterranean. An evening at one of our local vineyards strolling the grounds will be a great addition to the atmosphere. Walking to our local grocer and buying fresh bread, cheese and meat, then dining out on the balcony is a perfect Italian breakfast. Renting Vespa's from the shop downtown will be a great way to spend the afternoon, followed by a late lunch at the authentic Italian restaurant in town. We will buy Italian Ice and Pellegrino to enjoy while we watch "Roman Holiday" and a Rick Steves guided tour. And to top it off we will read highlighted passages from 'Under the Tuscan Sun" out loud. Please share what your plans are. Maybe we will go "visit" your favorite destination.

 Word for Today, Charity: Sometimes I wonder why things come into my mind in the middle of the night and I lie here thinking about them. Last night the word charity came into my mind, so I contemplated it. Some translations of the Bible use the word charity instead of love in 1 Corinthians 13 which is often called the "love chapter" of the Bible. So, my thought was they are a definition of each other. The word was probably in my mind because the past few weeks I have been reading about Louisa Mae Alcott. Her father held some very odd beliefs, but one thing that he did right was while their family lived in virtual poverty they continually gave to others. Charity is something that is usually hard for the receiver to accept, but is something the giver believes they must do. This is a true picture of God's love and Jesus' sacrifice for us. It is hard for many to accept His free gift of love. It seems too good to be true and so beyond what we deserve. But Jesus chose to give us this free gift of love and it breaks His heart when it is rejected. Have you accepted His charity? "Such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners." "That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." "Jesus went about doing good."