Motivated Moms

Ok, once again, I have started a NEW system to get things done! (Big shock, I know!) I was doing Fly Lady, but the e-mails were overwhelming me. So, now I'm on to motivated moms. You can check it out on http://www.motivatedmoms.com/.

It seems to be going pretty well for me....we'll see how I like it once I get passed the first week.

What system, if anything, do you ladies use to keep yourself organized, to get work done, to keep you motivated? I'm always so facinated by these things, so do share!

Pantry Challenge

So, 3 weeks ago I was challenged by a friend to do a pantry challenge (which basically means try to reduce the amount of food I have in my pantry to a more manageable amount). In these last three weeks, she has been doing her own freezer challenge, and making great progress. I on the other hand, made a list, and have done nothing further!!

But, in my defense, I've had good reasons:

1. I wanted to get rid of leftovers before cooking any new things

2. We have had dinner with my family several times in the last several weeks. (Which contributed in two different ways! One, we didn't make anything new, and two, we brought home new leftovers to clear out first!)

3. I cook for youth group every other Sunday, and am SOOO not a judge of how much to cook! Micah makes so much fun of me because I'm constantly thinking in my head that I'm cooking for about 20 people (around 15 kids and 4 adults). He has to remind me over and over again that I'm not really cooking for 20 people...I'm cooking for a dozen junior high girls, and 7 people! Hehe..so needless to say, this has caused MORE leftovers.

But, I think we are seeing the end of the leftovers!! Praise the Lord...Micah is so not picky, and will eat anything I serve, but I know he's getting tired of the same things over and over again. So, starting on Monday, I will be going full force on my pantry challenge.

Perhaps, though, I should explain what "full force" means for us!
First, the reason for this pantry challenge is because my pantry is chock full of processes/boxed dinners, and I'm wanting to get away from that, and get into freezer meals (cooking for a month at at time) instead. Also, there are only two of us, and a lot of these boxed dinners are intended to feed four, which means by cooking one night, we're creating 2-3 left over portions. Which is fine, we can eat them for lunches...but sometimes other things come up and we have to eat the leftovers before they go bad, which means we don't always cook another meal!
Second, I am gone Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and so Micah fends for himself. We also eat out for lunch on Sundays, and have dinner with the youth group on Sunday.
So, that leaves Monday and Thursdays definitely, and possibly Saturday and Sunday, though plans for those days can change!!

So, as you can see, it'll be slow going!! But, I'm going to try to make an effort to clear out 2-3 meals a week! We shall see!

Here's my list so that you can keep track of my progress too!:
Chipotle Burritos
Campbell's Supper Bake - Savory Pork Chops, Green Beans
Frito Chili Pie
Chicken Nuggets, Au Gratin Potatoes, RL Buiscuts
Sausage and Potatoes
Pancakes/Waffles, Sausage
Chicken Nuggets, Stuffing
Chicken Helper, Green Beans
Ramen
Chicken Nuggets, Au Gratin Potatoes, RL Buiscuts
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Pancakes/Waffles
Chicken Nuggets, Stuffing
Stir Fry, Rice Noodles
Ramen
Lasagna, Veggies
Pancakes/Waffles
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
Chicken Soup - pasta and broth
Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes
Chicken Nuggets, Stuffing
Sloppy Joes, Cauliflower and Cheese
Pancakes/Waffles
Chicken Nuggets, Stuffing
Tuna Helper
Alfredo
Chicken Helper
Chicken Nuggets; pasta side
Hamburgar Helper
Pancakes/Waffles
Chicken Nuggets, pasta side
Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup
spaghetti
alfredo
Tuna Helper
Hamburgar Helper
Sausage and Potatoes
Crock Pot Classic
Lasagna - freezer one bread, salad

Coupon Party

As you can see, I'm WAY behind on clipping and sorting my coupons! I even have 2 (now three since this picture was taken) UNOPENED Sunday papers, 2 rebate forms I need to fill out and mail in, an All You magazine from JUNE (while unpacking more stuff in our new house, I found 3 more uncut magazines) and an accordian folder full of coupons even though I haven't used that system in MONTHS!

So, last night, me and two other girls (and my husband!) got together to cut and sort our coupons! I was sooooo behind, which is why I planned the party. It was sooo fun to get to hang out with them, but I didn't get nearly as much done as I would have liked!

Ok, in the picture, do you see the envelope full of already cut coupons? I only got through maybe 9/10ths of that!!

It's sooooo not fun to shop when you constantly have to dig through your coupons. I want to be caught up RIGHT NOW! I have been taking breaks between homework today to get caught up on my coupons. Wish me luck!

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

51Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.

55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.


I was really encouraged by these verses this morning, so I thought I'd share.
What's so encouraging? So much!
- We will all be changed
- We will put on the imperishable
- We will put on immortality
- We will be free from sin
- We will have this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ


Paul says, "Therefore"....because we have been given these wonderful things (and how wonderful they are!!) we are told to to be steadfast. We are told to be immovable. We are told to always abound in the work of the Lord. We are told to know, to remember that our toil is not vain in the Lord.


So how come so many of the things I do feel like they are in vain? Probably because I'm not being steadfast. It's possible that the things I fill my life with aren't the work of the Lord. I need to work on that.


But, be encouraged! We have victory through Jesus. Thanks be to God!

Golf Scores

So, Micah and I were lucky enough to get a chance to play Golf with Jere and Reagan! The only problem was we play be completely different rules! Among other things, we didn't agree on which direction play should proceed in.

Let's take a poll:
Do turns pass to the left (clockwise) or to the right (counter-clockwise)?

But, we would not be detered. We decided to play Micah and I's version, then Jere and Reagan's version, then Micah and I's again. The scores ended up:
Micah 118
Reagan 87
Jere 42
Magen 52

and, if we only take the scores where Micah and I's version was played, the scores look about the same:
Micah 70
Reagan 46
Jere 18
Magen 32

BUT, taking only the scores from Jere and Reagan's version, they look MUCH better!!:
Micah 48
Reagan 31
Jere 24
Magen 20

I think that's proof that I'm much more adaptive!!

God is SERIOUS about Love!

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved
you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another.

I was struck in my reading today about how many instructions 1 Corintithians 13 gives on love. I mean, I know it's called the Love Chapter, but have you ever counted? Just in verses 4-8, I got this list:

Love:

• Does not brag
• Is not arrogant
• Does not act unbecomingly
• Does not seek its own
• Is not provoked
• Does not take into account a wrong suffered
• Does not rejoice in unrighteousness
• Rejoices with the truth
• Bears all things
• Believes all things
• Hopes all things
• Endures all things
• Never fails

I say that I love my husband. I say that I love my family and friends. But, am I loving them the way God would have me to love them?

I journal a lot in my quiet times. It helps me to keep my thoughts focused, and putting in to words what the Lord is teaching me helps me to really grasp the priciple. After I finish one notebook and start on another I always go back and read through what the Lord has taught me throughout that period of time in the old journal. As I was doing that this morning, I was struck with how many times the Lord laid on my heart to pray for a single christian mom I am friends with and her 18 year old son who knows the Lord but is not walking with Him right now. Part of my prayer was that I just wanted to SHAKE this young man. He KNOWS the truth; he knows our Lord. I want to force him to serve his Savior. But then (isn't it amazing how this works?!) the Lord turned my frustration into to amazed thankfulness. How grand it is that faith doesn't work that way. No one can force you to serve Jesus. He lovingly give us the free will to choose Him. How much sweeter it must be for Him when we decide to follow after Him.


I have been burdened with (in a good way!) the amount of unsaved people around me. Sometimes I forget how many there are, because I have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding me (no complaints here)! Sometimes I feel like a broken record in my prayers for my family and the unsaved friends Micah and I have a lot of contact with. But, our Lord is SO faithful! I may never see responses to my requests. But, shame on me if I ever start thinking that's why I pray for them!

I pray, Lord that You would keep me faithful in my prayers for them. That I
would never lose track of why I want them to know You. It is NOT for my
satisfaction, Lord, but for Your glory.

Yet, if I do see responses...praise the Lord! He has rewarded years of prayer time and time again.


I encourage you ladies...keep at it. He wants you to bring your concerns to Him. If there is something on your heart that you've stopped praying about, I am praying that you would pick up the burden again with new vigor.


Have a blessed day!

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived; neithe fornicators, nor idolators, nor
adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nore thieves, nor the covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sactified, but
you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our
God.

What an AMAZING God we serve that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)!! I look at that list up there and think, "oh, I would never do those things!" but in my heart, I know that I am guilty of such sins. But, what an amazing knowledge we have as believers. What an amazing gift to know that we are washed. And not only washed, but sactified. And not only sactified, but justified!!




Go out and praise the Lord today!

Spacing...

I had hard returns in that last post so it'd be easier to read, and when I posted it, they didn't show up. Does anyone know how I can fix that?

Ch. 13 - The Great Mystery

I've been reading Debi Pearl's book Created to be his Help Meet a lot lately. Chapter 13's opening paragraph accurately put into words the desire of my heart these last several months.

"A wise woman understands that her husband's need to be honored is not based on
his performance, but on his nature and his God-ordained position. She learns
quickly to defer to his ideas or plans with enthusiasm. She looks for ways to
reverence him. She knows this is God's will for her life."

I know this may sound silly, and probably I should have grasped this truth many years ago, but it has just recently struck me as amazing that God's will for my life is so very clear in His Word! There's no guess work, no room for doubt. He makes it so obvious, yet I've not understood until now.



He wants me to be a help meet to my honey. He tells me that I am perfectly suited to be Micah's help meet. Some of the traits of a help meet that Debi mentions in her book that I've been pondering/trying to improve on are:


- Has a passion to be of service (first to her husband, then children, and when time affords, to others) So many times I have gotten this order backwards. It should be easy for me, not having kids, to keep this straight...but it's not! My norm is to serve others first and then serve Micah with my left over time.


- Joyful, makes love fun, is thankful and content. I have lumped these three together in my head because they all seemed linked to my attitude. How can I make love fun for my dear hubby if I am grumpy all the time? How is he going to know that his love is more than enough for me if I am constantly griping and never satisfied?


- Learns to be flexible and to appreciate her man for who he is. This has really been a
hard pill for me to swallow...every day! I like for things to be orderly, I like to be in control. And, for some reason, it is so hard for me to understand that my hubby is a sinner just as I am, yet so easy for me to expect him to forgive me because I'm not perfect!





Sorry I have been away from this blog for so long. These thoughts of marriage, and my attempts to make mine what God desires for us, has taken priority of late. God has given me such a heart for this sacred institution He has created. If I know you read my blog, you can rest assured I pray for your marriages. Micah and I have purchased a case of Debi Pearl's books, and I would be more than happy to give copies to anyone who sees a need for them (whether for themselves or other women). Let me know if you'd like one - or several! What amazing gifts God has given us - our husbands AND clearly defined purposes for our lives!


Hope all is well with you.


(Oh, and yes, I know I'm still needing to post house pictures. I do not own a digital camera, but as soon as I am able to get my hands on one, I will post them!)

Proverbs 31

Description of a Worthy Woman
10An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
14She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24She makeslinen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

I have been noticing lately how quick I am to ask Micah to do some task that I don't enjoy doing. He is more than happy to do it for me (folding laundry, cleaning the toilet, loading/unloading the car). But, I am HIS help meet, not the other way around. There are also times that I give him tasks because, "I'm not capable of doing that!" But, look at the woman in these verses! She can do it all!! And, if I weren't so lazy and selfish I could definitely do the things I unload on Micah. The more I think about it, the more I realize that they're not hard tasks, they're just the tasks I don't enjoy. But, being his help meet is my God-given role. Even cleaning out the shower drain can be an enjoyable task when I am serving my hubby, and in turn, worshiping my Lord.

Proverbs 25

Lots to consider in this proverb!

Verses 11-12:
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.
Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

So many times I think that I know just the right thing to say in a given situation. How wrong I can be!! Too many of those times, I probably did know the right thing to say, just didn't pick the right time. My problem is, that I'm defining the right time, I am not letting the Lord show me HIS perfect timing.

Verses 21-22:
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thristy, give him water to drink;
For you will heap buring coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Verse 24:

It is better to live in the corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

I've heard this verse quoted several times, but have never really stopped to think on it. According to dictionary.com contentious means:
1. tending to argument or strife; quarrelsome
2. causing, involving, or characterized by argument or controversy

I wouldn't normally think of myself as a contentious woman...but as I read these definitions, I could totally think of times that I have been contentious. And, at first thought...why should it matter? I mean, I'm not contentious ALL the time...just a few times, here and there. But then, don't I want my hubby to be happy living with me all the time? Should I be content to only make him happy he chose me as his bride MOST of time time?

Thank you, Lord, that You are continuing Your work in me.

More Interesting!

I want to make the look of my blog more interesting. The whole thing is kind of empty (the Be Productive box at the top, and the little green box over my picture). I also don't have anything in the about me part. Does anyone have ideas on what I should add to make this place more like myself?!



I'd appreciate any input!

Raising Children (Proverbs 22)

These last two weekend we were very blessed to get a chance to hang out with a few of our nephews. One of the huge blessings that came from it, for me, was to see my brother and sister correct their children in love, teaching them the way that they should go. I'm sure to them it seems like a never ending job right now - and it probably is! But, such great rewards God promises for it!

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

To those of you with children: Keep on! I pray for you. There are several of you who read my blog that are major examples to me! Thank you!

Packing...

Packing is so fun to me! It soo fits my desire to be organized! I'm foolishly hoping that I can stay organized right from the beginning in our new house. We shall see.

I've got all my scrapbooking stuff packed and ready to move into my new scrapbooking room! That's right, the house we bought has a room JUST for scrapbooking! I took a picture, and am ashamed of all the stuff I have...and then I added a whole nother box of stuff that wasn't even in this picture. But, in my defense, the majority of those two big clear tubs are pictures and trinkets to scrap...not all of it is paper and embellishments!

Couponing!

I went out earlier this week and did my shopping at Walgreens and Dillons. Here's what I got

Walgreens:
2 windex class cleaners
2 windex surface cleaners
2 lysol air sanitizers
3 boxes of trash bags
1 dollar to breast cancer

Spent: $5.26
Will receive back: $7.70


Dillons:
8 Healthy Choice Entrees
2 Frozen Lasagnas
2 Bryers Ice cream
2 packages of lunch meat
2 packages of cheese slices
2 sour creams
4 toothbrushes
9 chef boyardee ravioli
2 Suddenly Salad

Spent: 31.46
Will Receive Back: 10.00


I love this hobby!!

"Magen needs..."

I saw on my friend Joy's blog several weeks ago, that she posted a thing where she googled "Joy needs" and discovered all sorts of things about herself. I thought I'd do the same thing!

- Magen needs YOUR help in the War Against Terror.
- Magen needs your generous donations
- Magen needs to listen when told to wear sunscreen
- Magen needs to plan a day off
- Magen needs to take more care in her choice of friends
- Magen needs your votes
- Magen needs to get her bathing suit so we can go to the beach
- Magen needs a computer desk
- Magen needs to get over it
- Magen needs to learn how to burp

The generous donations, the day off, and the computer desk I'll take!! :)

Our New house!

Yes, the rumors are true! Micah and I did indeed buy a house last Saturday. The move in date is set for June 22nd. I am going to be finishing up a summer class about that time, so I'm hoping to get all my packing done as soon as I possibly can! If you have any boxes that you'd be willing to donate to the cause, let me know!

Here's a link to a virtual tour. I'm not sure how much longer the link will work...but enjoy it while it lasts!

http://www.visualtour.com/show.asp?T=869803

I've been Tagged!

tsbjf has asked me to list 10 weird or random things about myself. It's taken me a while to sit down and do this, but here goes!

1. When I was born, my head was so big, that the doctors were worried I wouldn't be able to hold my head up on my own for a long time.

2. I retroactively write things in my agenda so that I won't forget things I've already done. (Micah makes so much fun of me!)

3. I married a man that one of my dearest best friends had a crush on for years! (Awful, huh?)

4. I play games in order to motivate myself. I've done all sorts of things including Super Woman Points, and earning money to spend however I please.

5. I set new years goals for myself, and then make myself finish no matter how long it takes. In my silly agenda world, I am still on December 13th, 2006.

6. It took my husband and I exactly one week to search for and buy a house!

7. I was born on the Ides of March (the 15th), which is the day that Julius Caesar was assasinated. (I'm sure I spelled some of those words wrong.)

8. I don't think having to list ten things is very fair, because other friends of mine only had to list 7 things!

9. I was born in the same town that my mother-in-law grew up in. She loves to do geneology, and has still not ruled out the possibility that my husband and I are related some how! :)

10. I spent $80 on a really cute shelving unit to store all my free stuff that I have gotten at CVS and Walgreens. But, I'm so sure that I'll be able to recover that and much more!! :)

There you have it! Hope you enjoy your day!

Parts of Psalm 145

I will extol You, my God, O King,
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and higly to be praised,
And His greatness is unsearchable...

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works...

The Lord sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all who look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
And to all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.

May your mouths constantly speak the praises of the Lord, dear readers, and may you cling to these promises, as you go throughout your week in the roles the Lord has for you!