Making Time

A few years ago it was pointed out to me that we MAKE time for what is important to us. You probably don't have to think very hard about how that is true in your life... We all have things that we love to do and don't even think about if we have time or not, and then there are other things that we constantly are putting off because "we don't have time to..."

 

Any of these sound familiar?

• "I don't have time to exercise"
• "I don't have time to read"
• "I don't have time to get organized"
• "I don't have time to cook healthy meals"
• "I don't have time to clean my house"
• "I don't have time to be patient or kind to my kids"
• "I don't have time to visit that person"
• "I don't have time to grocery shop"
• "I don't have time to ____ shop"
• "I don't have time to read my Bible"
• "I don't have time to pray"
• "I don't have time to write and send cards"
• "I don't have time to take pictures"
• "I don't have time to sleep"

I could go on, but you get the idea. I'm sure I've said most of these at various times.

But here's the deal. Those aren't true. We've been given 24 hours each and every day. That's a LOT of time. Sure, it's not enough to do every single thing that we want to. But if you look at your days, you have time to do what you want to do. You're choosing to do it. We MAKE time for our priorities.

So here's my challenge: next time you start to say (to yourself or anyone else) "I don't have time ___", stop and say instead "I don't make time to ____". 

And don't worry, it's not a bad thing to say "I don't make time to read or exercise or..." anything else that's for me. What IS bad to say is that I don't make time to serve God and other people (i.e. "I don't make time to pray or be patient or make food for my family or text a friend in need").

(Follow-up challenge: discern why your priorities are what they are. An action that used to be for myself might still need to be a priority but because it serves someone else.)

This is hard for me but I want to be more honest and straightforward about my priorities. It's okay to have priorities, they just need to be the right ones for the right reasons.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

(Ephesians 5:15-16)

▫ December Scripture Writing Challenge ▫

1. Galatians 5:22-24 - When we need to practice gentleness and self-control
2. 2 Peter 1:5-9 - When we need to practice gentleness and self-control
3. James 3:2-5 - When we need to practice gentleness and self-control
4. Psalm 131 - When we want to try to solve all the problems of the world
5. 1 Peter 3:8-12 - When we need to be a blessing
6. 1 Peter 3:13-17 - When we are blessed by suffering
7. 2 Chronicles 20:12 - When we should be waiting on the Lord
8. Psalm 90:12-17 - When we are doing God’s work that is established for our good
9. Psalm 119:57-64 - When we need to seek His Word
10. 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 - When we need to keep giving from the heart
11. Galatians 5:22-26 - When we need to be filled with the Spirit and bear its fruit
12. Psalm 66:8-12 - When we need to plant our feet in God
13. Zechariah 8:3-8 - When we need a clear picture of God bringing joy
14. John 4:7-14 - When we thirst for the Living water
15. John 6:35-40 - When we hunger for the Bread of life
16. John 8:12 - When we seek the Light of the world
17. Ephesians 4:11-13 - When we should use our gifts for growth
18. Psalm 19:1-6 - When we should dwell on the works of God
19. Psalm 19:1-7 - When we need His changing Word
20. Psalm 103:1-5 - When we need to remember what God has done for us
21. Colossians 1:9-12 - When we pray for others
22. Colossians 3:12-14 - When we are choosing our appearance
23. Philippians 4:4-7 - When our lives need refocusing
24. Philippians 4:8-9 - When our minds need cleansing
25. Philippians 4:11-13 - When our hearts need contentment
26. James 1:27 - When we want to please our Father
27. Titus 3:4-7 - When we need to remember His grace
28. 1 John 3:16-18 - When we need to remember His love
29. Hebrews 4:14-16 - When we need to remember His love
30. Matthew 5:3-10 - When we want to have character like a Kingdom citizen
31. 1 John 2:15-17 - When we strive to have the love for the Father and His will in us

Questions To Ask While Shopping

In the past few years, my love for shopping has grown. It's become an enjoyable activity to do with friends and let's be honest, it's fun to get new stuff. Shopping is like almost everything else in life: not inherently good or bad, just depends on how you do it. Unfortunately, I often make poor decisions in my use of money and choice of purchases. Again, like in many other areas, I am constantly growing and hoping to get better in this one. I've used various tactics...a couple different times I've decided not to shop for a month. The benefits included not only saving money, but also exercising self-control. During those months, I would avoid some stores that were especially tempting and I discovered how easy it actually was to not buy things when I didn't see them!

Now of course this is not always possible...every store that we go to has tempting advertisements and attractive displays, whether that be the Target Dollar Spot or the candy in the grocery checkout aisle.

So another tactic I sometimes use (and should more often) is to ask myself various questions about a purchase that I'm considering.

Let me share them...

• Would I rather spend this money on something I want more?

• Example: I happen to find a clearance $5 pair of cheap pearl earrings, but I've been wanting a pair of new boots. If I could be $5 closer to getting my boots, I'd rather that. So in a sense, that helps me to resist the earrings and mentally put that $5 toward my boots.

• Do I like the item OR something about the item?

• Recently, I came close to ordering a scarf online from Old Navy. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that what I really liked was the pattern of the scarf, and I didn't know how much I'd actually wear the scarf itself. It could be the pattern, way it fits, the idea, etc...

• Am I just buying it because it's cheap?

• I run across this difficulty most often while shopping at thrift stores... I find a neat item and get excited because of what a good deal it is and then get home and realize I don't even really want it or need it. (I will say, however, that there are times when I don't need or want something, but I will sometimes get it if it's a really good deal in order to give it to someone else who could use it. Bottom line is still to have a purpose for the purchase.)

• Will I feel the need to defend this purchase?

• I think about my husband most often when asking this question. He is kind and giving, but also helps me focus on needs versus wants, so if I feel that I'll have to do a lot of defending and explaining, it's probably not a wise purchase. For others, it may be a sister or mother or close friend who you may find it helpful to imagine how they'd react to your decision.

• Is there something that I'm willing to give up for this?

• Unfortunately, we've slacked a little in this habit, but for a while in our home we decided that if we got something, we gave something. A new pair of shoes means we get rid of a pair of shoes. The biggest benefit is probably just keeping clutter to a minimum, but it also helped me to think about how much I really wanted the new item. If I didn't want to give up my current winter coat, then I didn't really need this new one. 

I hope these are helpful to you, but I also would LOVE to hear any additional questions or ways of thinking that help you make wise decisions in your own personal shopping!

#PurchasewithaPurpose

"Mother Knows Best"

I don't know if this has always been the case or if it's come about more recently, but since having friends who have entered the stage of parenthood and experiencing it myself, I've come to notice that this is a very popular way of thought. 
That is, the idea that "I, as my child's mother, know what is best for them."

This is not to come across as controversial or argumentative, but to draw attention to a fact that is a comfort...

I would like to admit that I don't always know what's best for my child. I would love to. But I don't. Sometimes I think I do, and I'm right. And sometimes I think I do, and I'm wrong. It wouldn't make life easy per se, but I do think it'd make it easier.

It's easy to feel pressured to know what's best, or at least to claim that. But when I'm truthful with myself, I remember how I call this whole parenting thing an "adventure", and that's how it feels. Sometimes it's total guesswork and sometimes it's trial-and-error and sometimes you learn from mistakes and sometimes you experience success! An adventure is full of question marks. I don't know about you, but I feel like that describes my daily life fairly well. 

• When it comes to medical situations... I'm okay with not always knowing what's best for my child - I'm thankful there are doctors that have spent multiple years and thousands of dollars to learn what they need.
• When it comes to eating, sleeping, schedules... I'm okay with not always knowing what's best for my child - I'm thankful for older moms who share what they've learned about those things.
• When it comes to discipline... I'm okay with not always knowing what's best for my child - I'm thankful for my parents and their example, for their humble admittance to not knowing everything but also their willingness to advise.
• When it comes to teaching them about God... I'm okay with not always knowing what's best - I'm thankful for a big Christian family who will be there, shining their lights for my children to see.

God has given me the responsibility to care for my child. He hasn't given me the task of knowing everything. Instead, He's provided me with everything I need. Thank Him for that.

#mondaymomthoughts

spring break calls for bake date!

One of my good friends, Sam, was on spring break this week so we decided to plan something fun. We both enjoy baking and don't have too many opportunities to, so that's what we decided to do! We're both Pinterest-lovers so of course we're always seeing gorgeous desserts that look delectable, as well as FUN, and this was our chance to replicate them! ...or make our own masterpiece. But that's jumping ahead.

our plan a

After perusing various recipes and reminiscing on our favorites, we set out to make a chocolate cake with ganache topping and a layer of ganache in the middle. (My mouth has been watering for some ganache recently, and Sam had never enjoyed it.) 

the execution of plan a

We made our shopping list, went to the grocery, and began mixing!

First, the ganache. We started with the ganache so that it could have time to cool in the fridge. 

We used this recipe: http://littledelightscakes.com/ganache-cake/

1 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
2 TBL unsalted butter

It impresses me how simple ganache is to make! 

The ganache went into the fridge to sit for a little while.

The cake was then mixed up. For this we used a Devil's Food cake mix and split it between two 8x8 baking dishes. Our plan was to spread a layer of ganache on top of one cake and put the other on top with another lay of ganache. After the cake was finished baking - it looked and smelled great - I flipped it upside down over a cooling rack. 

Aaaaaand there is where our flexibility as master bakers comes in. The cake broke. I laughed. We groaned. I laughed some more. We both stood there giggling at the problematic twist. We discussed various options (us simply eating that cake and frosting the other one that was still in the dish), and then Sam came up with a winning idea! 

plan b

First step: crumble up the broken cake into the 8x8 dish.

Next: pour ganache (that has thickened a little from being cooled) over the cake. It seeps through the spaces and makes the already moist cake even more scrumptious.

Then: cut up strawberries in fourths or sixths and spread over the top.

For the record, we did go ahead and "ganache" (can that be used as a verb?) the cake that was still intact.

 the finished products

Devil's Food Cake & Ganache

Strawberry Ganache Galore

and LET ME TELL YOU, they were delicious. (personally, my favorite ended up being the Strawberry Ganache Galore).

Lip-smackin' goodness.

truly one of the best things in life: sharing chocolate with a friend

bread and wine

...the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley).

And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.

He blessed him and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

He gave him a tenth of all.

The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself."

Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have sworn to the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for f ear you would say, 'I have made Abram rich.'

Satan came out to meet me in the King's land.

And Christ king of Jerusalem sacrificed and gave His body and blood; He interceded to God Most High. He blessed me and said, "Blessed be Miriam of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

I gave Him an offering.

Satan said to me, "Give me your soul, and take the comfort and fun and ease."

I said to Satan, "I have promised the Lord God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not give into your temptations, or else you might say, 'I own Miriam's heart."

Mom's Banana Bread

I'm sure this is not my mom's original recipe... I'm thinking there are probably few actual original recipes. Kind of like quotes. Plagiarizers keep getting the credit.


So I'll perpetuate this tragedy and give Mom credit for this great banana bread recipe, or at least give her credit for passing it along to me, as well as the love of banana bread.
I've determined that most of the breads we eat are actually cakes that we call "breads" so we can eat them for breakfast. Kind of like how muffins are basically cupcakes. But I'm not complaining!



Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
3 bananas
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
(choc chips)


Instructions:
Mix all ingredients well.
Butter, vanilla, sugar, then add eggs, bananas, then dry ingredients.
Pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake @ 350 for approx. 60 min 
(makes one loaf pan)