Clearing Clutter from your mind and surroundings

Romans 12:1-2 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

I have recently noticed my inability to keep things tidy. My areas or in my mind. I have been taking home a lot of things and just stack them on top of one another. My thoughts race from one thing to another.

Clutter can be an enormous drain on your time and energy. I am making a plan to de-clutter. I am hoping it will reduce some of my stress and frustration. I am going to reclaim my space and increase my energy. One benefit I hope to obtain from my goal of getting rid of clutter is to feel good about myself and the place where I live.

So here is how I am going to start this out. I will throw or donate 10 things for the next 14 days. I will keep you posted on my progress. I will try to uncluttered my mind as well.

A) Room or Area Clutter

1) Set your goals.My clutter control goal is to keep those things that make sense in the space that I have. I decided to ask myself a set of questions. When did I last use the item? Am I likely to use it again? Is it worth holding onto it, given my bedroom is small and is cluttered?

2) Develop a plan.
Without one I found it was a real motivational drainer. I found it helpful to make a to-do list with a set time for each task. This can be as little as 10 minutes a day. Write down what you want to de-clutter. Break down your tasks so that you can keep your de-cluttering tasks specific. After I set a task I will complete it. I choose a small thing to organize - ex: organize a drawer, corner or a part of the closet. I will not stop halfway; I will try to complete the task.

3) Have a vision to reduce clutter in the future.
By focusing on what you want and the relationship between you and your space (rather than the quantity of stuff) you really make some permanent ch.anges in your habits. Imagine how good it feels to have an organized home and life and to know where your things are.

B) Mind Clutter

1) Reduce Worry.
Think about the right now. As the old saying goes yesterday is gone and tomorrow can take care of itself. If something frustrates you, tell yourself that I am doing the best I can at this moment in life.

2) Positive Thinking.

Fake it until you can make it. Say to yourself I can do this. Positive thinking can cause you to believe so you can be.

3) Learn from your emotions.

Is this feeling a response to ignoring a need, pushing myself too hard, expecting too much of myself, or somehow treating myself without kindness and compassion?

4) Journal
Spend a few minutes each day to write down your thoughts. Then write the good things that happened that day and what you are thankful for.

5) Cut yourself some slack. 
If you find that you are slipping back into behaviors that you are trying to change, congratulate yourself for recognizing that. Then recommit to the new behavior.

My hope is if I follow these simple tips will help me get back on track, clear the chatter in my head, and help me make time for the things most important in life.

My feeling of grief

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, and I thought as a child. But when I became an adult, I grew far beyond my childhood, and now I have put away the childish ways.

- 1 Corinthians 13, 11

This verse runs through my mind, along with thoughts running as swift as the White River here in Indiana, during a flood.

My father, lying in a darkened nursing home room, was close to death. But as he reached for my hand and looked at me intently, he was fully aware that his daughter was at his side.  He told me I love you and I said the same. I answered as confidently as I could despite the tears in my eyes and the quiver in my voice. I knew he was almost ready to begin his journey home to God. But I'm not ready and don't want to deal with this by myself.  The next day a nurse from hospice came to sign my dad up for the program. I asked how long do you think he has? She answered days maybe a couple of weeks. That day he never opened his eyes or spoke a word. I busied myself downloading pictures of him to make a video. For his funeral showing. I went home after sitting with dad for the last 8 hours. I was tired. I awoke to a ringing phone that Monday morning I dreaded answering it, feeling immediately awake. The nurse told me dad had passed away in his sleep peacefully.  Oh God I cried running down the stairs to tell my sister. It had been a long, agonizing 17 months watching my father go from a stroke, the   ICU, dialysis, dementia trying to take his mind, and having to learning to walk again. He'd improve all around only to worsen again to finally needing more and more care as his heart continued to decline and finally just gave out. I was trying to do my best but never feeling adequate to the task.  With my father’s death, memories of the months of exhaustion, fear, self-doubt, second-guessing-and, yes, complaining, "When will all this end, when will I get some help?"- Those thoughts instantly vanished. I had experienced the death of loved ones before, but never did it hurt like this. I was almost 50 years old, but I felt helpless. The death of my father has affected my ability to sleep.  But mixed in with that is also a sense of relief along with the grief. I will see a place we went together or hear a song and the tears come. I am usually alone when this happens. But I try to keep it all together. We may have lived enough years to be an adult but we will always be a child in relation to our parents. Even if we find ourselves "parenting our parents" before their death. With all the memories I am finding it is the father of my youth and childhood that was buried.  His last hospitalization he flat lined and stopped breathing, a nurse told me I should start preparing for his death. it is virtually impossible to prepare ourselves emotionally for the loss. When it is our parent it sounds kind of cliche to say he had a long life and was suffering surely it is a blessing to know he is with Jesus now. But that is what I have to believe. I would like to be a child again and hug my daddy one more time.

Baby its Cold Outside

Snow is wet and made up of ice crystals. Kids love it. 
Here are some ideas for you to try.
Mini snow family:

Must easier to make than full size snow man. 
Snow Globes:
Use strong  glue to attach a plastic toy to the inside of a jar lid, then add baby oil and glitter for a homemade snow globe; it makes a fun souvenir of a great day.
Bird Feeder:
Hollow out an orange and fill with seeds to feed your feathered friends.
Tic Tac Snow:
Two players go for the championship in this classic game. Use crisscrossed sticks and pinecones as game pieces.
Snow Castles:
Borrow some pans from the kitchen. Use them to build crystal fairy castles or to create cakes for a cold-weather "buffet."

Now for the Adults Here are a few tips:
Does the news of heavy snow sound like a chance for fun? Think again. Snow coming down at a rapid pace and strong winds blowing and drifting the snow into piles deep enough to bury cars make for poor visibility and life threatening emergencies.
Make sure that you have candles, matches or lighters, a flashlight, a battery-operated radio, and emergency food supplies and tons of blankets.
In heavy snows stay off the road until driving conditions are safe again.
If you get stranded in your car during a bad snow storm be prepared with plenty of warm clothes and packaged snack foods. It may seem sensible to leave the engine running to keep warm, but it isn't. The danger of carbon monoxide poisoning is high. Snow can block your exhaust pipe and fill the car with deadly fumes. Keeping one window open just a bit will help avoid this. If you keep the engine running you may run out of gas before the storm is over. 
Snow Emergency Kits:
batteries, flash lights, battery operated radio/television, bottled water, toilet paper, nonperishable foods such as cereal or crackers, canned goods, a non electric can opener, a small cooler, candles, prescription medicines and any over-the-counter remedies you use regularly; board games, cards & puzzles. And if you have young infants or toddlers - diapers, baby wipes, formula, baby food.
 Finally, STAY INSIDE.

Gift Cards at Kroger

I am a Bzz Agent. When you buy gift cards at The Kroger Co. Family of Stores, you get something, too: the gift of cheaper fuel!

I purchased the 4 ten dollar Mc Donalds Gift Cards. I used a hundred bonus point coupon I received for being a Bzz Agentt and received 99 points for this purchase. So I will be saving about .30 cents per gallon on my next fuel purchase. You can go to Kroger Stations, Turkey Hill Stations and Shell Stations and use your Kroger Card for money off on your gas purchase. These points will come in handy due to the rising cost of fuel. You too can save on gas by purchasing gift cards at Krogers. 

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Kroger Skillet Meals, Kroger Fresh Express Salad Kits, and Kroger Garlic Bread Bzz Agent review

This is my second review. I decided to try a different variety of the Kroger Skillet Meals for dinner this time. I went with the Tuscan Style Penne. I purchased two bags, because one will not feed a family of four. My family loved it. We will definitely purchase this variety again! The Fresh Express Salad Kits are great because they include everything you need lettuce, veggies, dressing, and toppings such as croutons and bacon. And just enough left over for my lunch the following day. Coupled with the Kroger Garlic Bread, which is a winner in my household. It’s difficult to believe it was store brand. The kids really loved the garlic bread and we've had it couple of times since first trying it. It is a complete meal ready in a little over 10 minutes with minimal effort. This meal is definitely a huge success! Be sure to give Kroger Skillet Meals a try and while you're there, why not make it a meal and pick up a bag of Fresh Express Salad and some Kroger Garlic Bread. I had the pleasure of trying their Kroger Skillet Meals, Fresh Selections Salad Kits, & Kroger Garlic Bread. I received a sample of this product from Bzz Agent to review. I am a Bzz Agent and participate in their program

Saving Money with Coupons

There seems to be quite a few people that don't use coupons because they are embarrassed to do so. While they may think that there are legitimate reasons to not use coupons, the truth is that they aren't in the least bit embarrassing.

Everyone has reasons for saving money, it could be for emergency fund, retirement, college funds, vacation and the list goes on, because life happens every day.

My grocery bill came to $62.00 and some change. I donated $1.00 to the food bank right in the store. I used my coupons for a savings of $27.45. So I actually spent $34.00 and some change for all of this.

Besides using your savings on yourself and family, you can use your coupon savings toward helping others. Here are some good points or ideas.

You get the ability to support other people in need.

You are able to meet your family obligations without getting into debt.

You are able to support Gods work in the local church and missions abroad.

You have the ability to demonstrate your obedience to God through your finances.

“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” (Proverbs 21:20, NIV)

Thats all for now, until next time!

How the Herbs from My Garden have Grown

Herbs from my garden

Gather the herbs in the early morning after the dew has evaporated to minimize wilting. Avoid bruising the leaves. They should not lie in the sun or unattended after harvesting. Rinse herbs in cool water and gently shake to remove excess moisture. Discard all bruised, soiled or imperfect leaves and stems.

 

dried dill

Drying is the easiest method of preserving herbs. Tie them into small bundles and hang them to air dry. Air-drying outdoors is often possible; however, better color and flavor retention usually results from drying indoors. Suspend a small bunch (large amounts will mold) of herbs in a bag and close the top with a rubber band. Place where air currents will circulate through the bag until the moisture evaporates. Any leaves and seeds that fall off will be caught in the bottom of the bag.  

I put mine in a black net bag which I hang mine in my closet. 

oregano ready to dry

When fully dry I place a newspaper on the table and gently squeeze the bundle over the paper. I then check for stray stems and discard them. I fold the paper and pour into a spice bottle and then write on the label what spice it is. I bought some inexpensive spice bottles from Dollar Tree.

And presto basil, thyme, & dill spices are ready for use.

I am currently drying out oregano.

Proverbs 6:6-8

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
⁷ It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest