Theme the Meals Away

After a VERRA long absence I am finally back.

Feeling a little like Rip Van Winkle in the blog world...

but it's okay - I got a Pioneer Woman cookbook for CHRISTmas! : )



And everything is right in the world.

Anyhoo...

Theming menu plans.

My OCD has been doing something like this:


MONDAY - Mexican (see below)

TUESDAY - Little Prep/Low Cost Meal (see below)

WEDNESDAY - Breakfast for Dinner (see below)

THURSDAY - Stick to Your Ribs Meal (see below)

FRIDAY - Little Prep/Low Cost Meal

SATURDAY - Huge Meal with Enough for Leftovers So I Don't Have to Cook on Sunday (see below)


Mexican (per ME, not my Hispanic husband...)
quesadillas & Spanish rice
P-Dub's Bean & Beef Burritos
burritos/tacos
tostadas
fajitas

LP/LC Meals
canned soup & lunch meat sandwiches
tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches
pizza hoagies
stir fry & steamed rice
hamburgers/sloppy joes & fries/tots
baked potatoes & salad
spaghetti, salad & garlic bread
cheese tortellini, salad & garlic bread
chili cheese dogs
grilled ham & cheese sandwiches
blt's & chips

BFD Meals
bacon, egg & cheese toasters
potato, egg & cheese burritos
muffins
cinnamon rolls
french toast
egg baskets
pancakes
waffles
boiled eggs, bacon & toast
omelettes

StYR Meal
ribs, baked potatoes/potato salad (depending on season) & corn-on-the-cob
mini meatloaves +sides
homemade pizza
colby-bacon chicken sandwiches
sweeper steak +sides
fried chicken, coleslaw & biscuits
buffalo wings +sides
baked chicken +sides
marlboro man sandwiches
meatball subs
lasagna, salad & garlic bread

Leftover Meals (usually with cornbread/french bread)
stew
black-eyed pea gumbo
potato soup
chili
bbq chicken (fam pack of quarters) +sides


This is far from all-inclusive... it's just all I could jot down while my kids were running around like heathens (or what I call blogging time). I can see my OCD adding on Italian Night, Suthuhn Night, Asian Night... these may need to be rotated.

Crafting to CHRISTmas: Personalized Tote Bags

I'm doing homemade gifts for CHRISTmas this year and I'm starting with some canvas bags for my Sunday School class kids and for my own kiddos.

I admit... I took the easy road. I bought the canvas bags. I could have been an Uber-Crafter and made them but, hey, I have TONS of projects lined up. And I'm only human.

So thur she blows.

You'll need:
3-pk multi-colored canvas bags
acrylic craft paint
super cute stencils
spouncers (doesn't that sound funny to you too?)

First, I tried something I saw online somewhere... if you know where it's from, please let me know so I can give them proper credit. The idea was to take a dollar store paper doily and use it as a stencil. And that's precisely what I did.

 

I wasn't entirely happy with this so I got some cute and inexpensive stencils from Wally World.

And this is what happened...

I then did a google image search for embroidery fonts and freehanded names and initials. They're not perfect (I did say freehanded) so don't judge, you silhouette owners.

And then I was getting a little bored with the stencils and did some sort of argyle-ish pattern, made using a ruler to draw the lines and painted with painter's tape as a stencil.

Note: to give the diamonds a worn look, I pressed a strip of tape on each one when they were still wet.

And backed it with some boyish letter stencils. (also inexpensive from Wally World)

Enjoy!

Menu Plan Monday... a week late.

I was completely without a ball last week. I didn't just drop it... it ran away from me screaming.

 

Head on over to www.orgjunkie.com for more great menu plans!

Monday - flatbread pizza

Tuesday - loaded baked potatoes

Wednesday - muffins

Thursday - soup (canned)

Friday - BLTs and chips

Saturday - potato soup and french bread

Sunday - leftovers

Monday - bean and beef burritos

image credit

Tuesday - steak salad & baked potatoes

Wednesday - potato, egg and cheese breakfast burritos

Thursday - BBQ chicken, steamed rice and vegetables

Friday - hamburgers & fries

Saturday - black eyed-pea gumbo and cornbread

Sunday - leftovers

Special K Challenge Review

Technically speaking, they did not come through on their promise... I cannot fit into my size 6 jeans.

But the Special K Challenge is definitely worth it.

I started out at 142 lbs (6 months after birthing a watermelon)

I was working out for only 30 minutes a day before starting the diet... but that soon fell to the wayside.

I got sluggish and just didn't have the motivation to do much of anything. I've read that this is normal... something to do with detoxing your body and toxins stored up that are releasing into your bloodstream. You'd think we would be rewarded for doing something good... so the diet isn't at fault for that part.

It was hard at times. I considered raiding my kid's snack stash. 

But just as I was hitting my breaking point I got to have another snack or meal. And, hey, the snacks aren't half bad. Then again, I might have eaten cardboard and called it bellissimo.

On the last day of the diet I weighed 136 lbs - for a grand total of 6 lbs lost.

Not too shabby for two weeks.

*shhh... don't tell him I shared this, but I've got my hubs dieting too : )*

So I will NOT be doing the whole diet again - but I AM still eating Special K breakfast cereals and shakes and the snacks. And I'm slowly but surely getting back into the exercise routine.

I'm gonna call this a success and definitely worth the money I saved. 

LOL - YES SAVED...  Special K meals and snacks cost a LOT LESS than all the junk food and carb-full meals I was eating.

A Tricky Subject (pun intended)

For Christians, Halloween is a tricky subject...

Dh and I have decided that we're not just going to turn tail and run from everything that may or may not be an affront to Christianity. What we do is live our lives for God and not spend our lives hiding.

Like one of my Good Morning Girls said... Satan has no right to any day that God has made.

So we celebrate CHRISTmas but we don't celebrate Santa... we celebrate Easter without the bunny... teeth with no tooth fairy... and Halloween without the images of death and evil things.

Man has a bad habit of ruining everything... so let's just do it the right way, shall we? Let's keep Halloween innocent and keep the dark stuff away from the kiddos.

I very much agree with Courtney's post on Halloween here: Women Living Well

SUPER Easy Braided T-Shirt Headband

So easy that you don't need a single crafty bone to do this.

First, cut a 1/2"x 12" (or longer, depending on length wanted) strip from three different tees. I keep old t-shirts that get holes in them to use just for these types of crafts. You can pin them to something or tape them to your desk like I did  : )

Start braiding! Mine didn't want to curl so much so I was using a pin to hold them in place while I was folding the edges back.

Once you've braided to the end, pin in place and trim off the excess. You can either hot glue the ends together or sew a line across them. I did a little hand-stitching... but I'm crazy like that.

I then did a fitting and measured out how much elastic I would need to finish it. Use a little less than what you think you'll need - the headband will stretch, trust me.

Place the elastic about 1/2 an inch onto the braid and wrap a folded piece of coordinating fabric around it. Again, either sew in place or hot glue. Do this for both sides of the braid.

Done. See how easy that was?

Now admire your handiwork on your daughter...

And let your other daughter try it on because she has to do everything the older ones do : )

Meal Plan Monday

I'm trying the Special K diet for two weeks (and by the way, it actually saved me money to buy those specific items instead of my normal meals and snacks) so the meals are a little healthier than normal (with carb add-ons for the family). If it works as promised (with exercise as well) then it may become a regular thing...

Head over to OrgJunkie for some more great meal plans!

Monday - chicken salad/ baked potato

Tuesday - cheese ravioli in pasta sauce/ garlic bread

Wednesday - streusel cream cheese & pumpkin spice muffins (a mouthful!) - same recipe but I added a dollop of cream cheese and streusel

image credit

Thursday - corn and chicken tostadas

Friday - bacon (veg-bacon for me) avocado sandwiches

image credit

Saturday - crockpot chili and cornbread

Sunday - leftovers

Monday - steak salad/ baked potatoes

Tuesday - burgers (veggie for me) & fries

Wednesday - P-Dub scones

Thursday - veggie stir fry and steamed rice

Friday - turkey sandwiches & soup

Saturday - potato soup & french bread (not so much diet...)

An End in Sight

It seems like every day I clean up the same messes... I'm always disciplining the kids for the same things... the laundry and dishes are forming mountains on top of me... I only get to eat after everyone has had seconds and my food is cold (and it gets shared with the toddler)...


With all of this... it just seemed never-ending. I've been more than happy to sacrifice my time for my family... but I was secretly hoping that there was an end to it (who doesn't?). I've had several older women tell me that it isn't always like this... but I didn't believe them : )

Finally - there is an end!

 Recently we had Old Fashioned Day at church with a potluck afterwards. There I was in line, juggling and serving three plates, while my husband mercifully controlled our three girls (the baby was asleep)... and all I'm thinking about is how I won't get to eat until after I come back and get plates for my husband and I then go take two trips to get everyone drinks. Thankfully, some kind person offered to get the kids drinks for my husband while I was gone. What a relief to know that my mind won't always be centered on such things.

My oldest is turning 6 soon and is certainly showing signs of getting older. She has started helping (of her own accord) with the dishes, laundry and straightening up. I do give the kids chores and they do help... but they're children and not capable of handling any significant work.

A few days ago, while I was feeding the baby, my oldest opens up the dishwasher and puts away the dishes.  You can imagine my pleasant surprise! Several instances like this have been popping and and wowing me.

It's one thing to hear that things are going to get better... it's another to SEE it. 

 It's been like a second wind to my Mom Hat.

From Oops to a Perfect Project

Have you heard of oops paint?

It's what happens when someone has paint mixed and then doesn't like it. It gets put back on the shelf but with a significantly lower price.

I call that reduced price happiness.

Image Credit

 

You can find these pretty much anywhere paint is mixed - Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart...

I always have a list of projects going around in my head and whenever I'm in one of those stores I do a drive-by of the oops section to see if any oops colors would work for one.


{Head on over to Living With Lindsay for more great tips on using oops paint}

NOT My Nana's Mashed Potatoes

8 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 c milk
1 stick butter
2 tsp garlic
2 tsp onion powder
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 T parsley
s&p, tt
water to cover

1. Cover cubed potatoes with water in pot and bring to boil. Reduce slightly and continue on high until potatoes are tender. Drain water.
2. Add all other ingredients and combine with a mixer. Lumps are okay... though Northerners may not agree.
3. Sprinkle with some more parsley if you like pretty things.

NOTE: Potatoes should be creamy, not thick - add more milk and butter to attain creamy consistency. And the more salt and pepper, the better...

A Giveaway

Giveaway: Eternal Life.

 

Mandatory Entry: Salvation.

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Okay, I'm saved... What next?

 

We are told that once we are saved we will begin to live our lives for Christ. That we love Him so much that we WANT to obey. Romans12:2 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.

What can happen if you don't live your life for Christ? Jesus himself tells us that HE NEVER KNEW YOU. Meaning, if you don't love Him enough to live your life for Him, then you have not been saved! Matt 7:15-23  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.  Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  

How do we live our lives for Christ and show the fruit that He wants? 

We let the Holy Spirit work on us. 

Television/Music

Am I watching a tv show or listening to music that is a stumbling block to me? Does it send the wrong message to my children? Does it depict people breaking a commandment? Does it have murder, homosexuality, promiscuity, deceit...? The more we watch these things, the more desensitized to them we become. And if our children are watching them with us (even if their eyes are not on it, they take it in!) they will never believe us when we tell them these things are wrong.

Media

Am I revolving my life around the tv, internet, facebook, blog, twitter, e-mail, smart phone? We're told not to put anything before God and that is just what our media-centered culture has us doing!

Children

Am I telling my children about God throughout the day and everywhere we go? Did you know that you're supposed to? When you daughter/son asks why it is raining, do you only tell them that water evaporates into clouds and falls when heavy enough? Or do you also explain that God created that system? Do I show my children a giving, kind and patient spirit that they will grow old and display the same? 

 

Church

Do I only go to church when I feel like it or when I can? We're told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and to hide God's words in our hearts that we might not sin. God also established the pastor and the missionary that we might LEARN. Am I serving in church? Am I exhorting  my brothers and sisters in Christ?

 

A Christly Woman

Am I being a Proverbs 31 and Titus 2 woman? Am I modest? Do I keep my home? Do I talk about my husband to other women? Am I sober minded or have I given in to the modern, loud and boisterous woman? Am I idle or do I help where I can? Do I help add to my husband's reputation?

There are so many ways that we can evaluate our lives and ask ourselves these questions... 

I don't think there should be a checklist for living for Christ...

But if we could just apply our love for God into every area of our lives, we would start seeing that fruit.

Mini Meatloaves

Meatloaf Ingredients

• 1 ½ lb ground beef 
• 1 package (not box) ritz crackers, crushed
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 eggs
• ½ onion, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp pepper
• 1 T Worcestershire sauce
• 1 T Italian seasoning

Topping

• 1 tsp parsley
• ½ c steak sauce
• ¼ c ketchup
• bread to coat dish

1. Prepare a 9x13 baking dish by lining bottom with slices of bread.
2. In large bowl, combine all meatloaf ingredients. Gitch’yer hands dirty! Shape into mini meatloaves, about 3-4 inches long. Arrange on top of bread in dish.
3. Bake 30 minutes at 375, or until middle is done.
4. Combine topping ingredients in small bowl. Brush onto tops of meatloaves. Serve and enjoy!

Girl's Drop Waist Dress

You know those awesome $3 kid's clothes at Wal-mart? I was browsing through them the other day and saw some potential for clothes going out of season... and my daydreaming resulted in a cute little drop-waist dress for my daughter.

1 t-shirt, one size too big
1 skirt, two sizes too big (or waist size matching shirt girth)
ribbon
embellishments

First, I cut off the elastic from the perfectly good skirt...

Then I took the shirt and folded it inside out.

Leaving the skirt right-side out, place it inside the (inside out) shirt and align the ends. Pin in place.

Here's an inside look of what's going on. My husband says I confuse people by waving my hands around... hopefully that doesn't translate to blog.

Sew a zig zag along the seam. I went back and sewed straight down one side of the zig zag, but that's not absolutely necessary.

Trim the excess, turn the dress right-side out and sew some coordinating ribbon on. Mine only coordinates a little... but I'm okay with that. I also made a fabric flower out of some scrap fabric but a bow made out of the ribbon would have looked good too. 

Put it on your daughter and it will look even cuter. : )

Menu Plan Monday

Enjoying the fall weather so much that I'm drinking coffee mid-day and pulling out my old soup recipes...

Head on over to Org Junkie to see more great meal plans!

\

Monday - homemade pizza

Tuesday - soup and sandwiches

Wednesday - breakfast burritos

Thursday - hamburgers and fries

Friday - loaded baked potatoes and salad

Saturday - BBQ chicken, rice and creamed corn

Sunday - leftovers

Monday - tacos

Tuesday - potato soup and french bread

Wednesday - pumpkin spice muffins

Thursday - fried chicken, twice baked potatoes and green beans

Friday - quesadillas and spanish rice

Saturday - black eyed pea gumbo and cornbread

OMG, You $*!#%!!!

Sorry for the title : )


Many Christians believe that the bible holds no guidance on using "bad words."

In fact, it's all over the bible!


I've always heard that cursing makes you look unintelligent... how true that is! Our culture has begun losing words and replacing them with the most debase and immoral form of communication known to man.



Just a funny video. I do not endorse replacing foul words with not-as-foul. The emotion is still there.

Let's start with Matthew 5:22 "... and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (lit. vain fellow or empty head), shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool (moros, lit. stupid), shall be in danger of hell fire."

Bet you didn't think that was cursing, did you? I take this to mean that if we make light of someone, we're in danger of slander... but when we make a malicious, bitter, damning statement, we are in danger of hell ourselves. I do not believe that we can lose our salvation, but I do believe that if you can be so bitter towards your fellow man, there is a chance that you are not saved.

The ten commandments themselves tell us not to take the Lord's name in vain, and yet all over the country (world, even) people are joining pop culture in o.m.g. Did you really think it meant something else? I go to the store and hear Jesus Christ... but not because they're Christian. I hear little kids with their OH GAWD. And apparently now people can order God to damn things. I've gone a step further by trying not to say Oh My GOSH because it's so easy to slip and say God.


Cursing itself (using a profane word as an exclamation), in my humble opinion, gradually wears down the spirit of the person saying it (not to mention the testimony of said person). 


Foul language tears down, destroys, and desecrates the dignity of the person saying it and that of the person it is being used against. Over and over again, the bible refers to the tongue as the culprit... the flesh is our weakness! If you can see that as the truth, then realize that cursing (and the owner thereof) are motivated by SIN.


Bring on the proof!
If you need more than this, then you don't really believe that God governs your life... I do recall that there need be only two-three illustrations for it to be considered fact, yes?

Psalms 10:7 "His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity." (cursing is aligned with liars and cheats!)

Psalms 59:12 "For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak." (again aligned with lying)

Psalms 109:17 "As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him."


1 Peter 2:1 "Wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and cries and all evil speakings."

Proverbs 15:4: "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness therein is a breach of the spirit."

Matthew 12:36-37: "I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." 

Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." (what's in YOUR heart?)

Romans 3:13-18 "¹³Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: ¹⁴Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: ¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood: ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways: ¹⁷And the way of peace have they not known: ¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes." (look at the kinds of people God is comparing cursers to)

Romans 12:14 "Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not."

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Colossians 3:8 “But now you must put away anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths."

2 Cor. 10:10 “For someone will say, "His letters are severe and forceful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 

Titus 2:6-8 "⁶Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. ⁷In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, ⁸Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."

1 Peter 1:15 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;"
 
1 Peter 3:10 "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:"

James 3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."

  James 3:9-12 "⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. ¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
There is a way to stop, if you don't know how!

One of the sweetest verses in the bible:

1 Corinthians 10:13 ¹³There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

This is not a step program, it's God's program. Lean on Him and you can do it 

Pray unceasingly

Hide these verses in your heart

Repent immediately when you fall

Praise God for milestones of success in quitting

Smothered Stew Meat

This started from a recipe I found on allrecipes but has been irrevocably changed since then... My husband says it reminds him of a Mexican dish but I haven't been able to find it (let me know if you know what it is!).


Smothered Stew Meat

1-2lb stew meat (the cut up chunks)
1 package dry onion soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup

1. Brown stew meat in skillet (should still be tender when you add in other ingredients).
2. Add in soups and mix in well. 
3. Heat to perfection.

Serve over rice and spoon lots of the sauce on.

Was that easy or what?

HSBA Swap and Breyers Win

So... I lost some pictures I took of all the awesome stuff I got from Nichole over at Butterscotch Sundae. And it was awesome. There was a cute little box full of CARAMEL (yeah, like that lasted long), a stapler, adorable colored staples, tons of flavored coffee (!), and some washable dry erase markers. Suh-weet. This was part of the homeschool swap over at the HSBA Post and it totally made my day.

UPDATE - I FOUND THE PICTURES! : )

Since I don't have pictures to post of my swap, here are some of the loot I got from Breyers for posting about their giveaway... enjoy... we are : )

The awesome insulated bag with a bottle opener on the side

The goods. That black cylinder is a rolled up picnic blanket backed in fleece.

 Yes, that's a coupon for FREE Breyers. As well as awesome Zak ice cream bowls with matching spoons, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, a seriously heavy scoop and a grow-in-the-bag mint.

Breyers is officially on my love list.

Menu Plan... Monday?

I was sick.

The baby was clingy.

The dog ate my menu plan... yep, I'm gonna go with that one.

Head on over to www.orgjunkie.com to see more great menu plans!

You may notice... the weather has changed. At least here in Virginia. You may also notice that I noticed. Just take a look at some of these great cool weather meals - stew, potato soup, soup and sandwiches, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches... there's a reason fall is my favorite season!

Monday - spaghetti, salad, garlic bread

Tuesday - sweeper steak and roasted vegetables (will post recipes tomorrow)

Wednesday - pumpkin spice streusel muffins (from my new GMG friend Toni) I added the streusel... it's a bad habit, I know.

Thursday - ham & cheddar potato stacks (loosely based on this recipe),  salad

Friday - butter chicken, steamed rice and vegetables

Saturday - potato soup and french bread

Sunday - leftovers

Monday - fried round steak, mashed potatoes, vegetables

Image Credit

Tuesday - soup (canned) and sandwiches

Wednesday - english muffin egg baskets

Image Credit

Thursday - wings, baked potatoes, salad

Friday - tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches

Saturday - stew and breadsticks

Sunday - leftovers

The Harried Mother

That's me. The Harried Mother.

Don't get me wrong - we have our good days. Today was not one... I cleaned the family room twice today. The girls also cleaned it once. There are dishes in the sink. There are clothes in the washer and dryer that have no hope of seeing daylight today. There is flour on the counter. The toddler is not wearing clothing. There are generally toys littering every surface. I'm pretty sure that's a piece of brownie on the floor. *sigh*

I read in Debi Pearl's Created to be His Helpmeet that we need to prioritize. If the children are fed, healthy, schooled and dressed (not so much in this case) then you need to stop worrying about the house being clean and just let it go for today. If you don't, the kids will have an angry, worrying, clean off-the-rocker mama on their hands. I decided awhile ago that I can just give my frustration over to God and change my standards a little.

I'm not talking about doing this every day or letting everything go - usually I'm *mostly* organized. But if you know that you're going to have a melt-down if you try to do everything, just take a break. Call your husband before he gets home to warn him of the destruction that awaits. "Please, honey, just pretend like a tornado did not rip through our house."

Christian women are NOT perfect. Hence the reason for needing Christ. We shouldn't pretend to each other that we are - the ONLY solution I have for not going crazy at the end of the day is to lean on God. Little organizing things I do might help but ultimately, that is the only answer.

Turning to God is not easy when you don't do it all of the time. It took our roof falling in, our son AND daughter almost dying and a slew of small problems before I started saying a prayer with every breath and asking God for help with EVERYTHING. We need to trust in God's plan and accept when it doesn't line up with ours. 

After that, some dirty dishes just seem a little insignificant.

Do You Wear Your Underwear in Public?

Do you?

Why not?

Because it would be inappropriate? Because there are laws against public nudity? Because only your husband/wife should see you in your underwear? Because you don't want anyone to see your fat?

If you wouldn't wear your underwear in public... why would it be okay to wear a swimsuit to the beach?

I have, in fact, seen swimsuits that are MORE revealing than underwear... so why are people wearing them? 

Here's what God has to say about modesty: 1 Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

Considering those instructions for women, is a swimsuit in ANY way modest?

I was saved for around a year before our pastor made a comment that got to me... he said "If you wouldn't wear something in church, why would you wear it elsewhere?" 

My first response was "But the BEACH is different" as I'm sure someone else is thinking right now. You wear the appropriate dress for a location, right?

So who says it has to be practically naked? 

Everyone's definition of modesty is different... to swim, I would wear a one-piece swimsuit (with no chest showing) and board shorts.

I just try (put some pots out to catch the sarcasm here) not to worry about my tan lines... And as for my three girls, they wear rashguard now - not "cute" little baby bikinis. They're going to have plenty of time to fight off the world trying to sexualize them... I think I'll give them a break for now.

I couldn't post of picture of the little girls in the bikinis... it just makes me sick. Go here if you're trying to convince yourself it's cute. It's not. It's exploitation and sexing up BABIES. The porn industry has enough business without our contribution. Trust me.

In addition to modesty, worry about the example you're setting for your children, the stumbling block you would be to other Christians and the testimony you're giving to the unsaved.