We have made a change in our homeschooling and it is scary and exciting all at once. Last week we joined a Classical Conversations group. It is a completely different way of schooling my children with many facets for me to learn.

Several mom’s saw my glazed look and took me by the hand and helped me. Those same moms gave me their contact information and offered to help in any way. One mom even gave me her book with all the lesson plans because mine was on order.

Classical Conversations has a different method and many times feels like a secret language. I was scared and so was my son, but because of the support we experienced today we both know we can do this.

I imagine how I felt today is how many people feel when they walk in our churches. They don’t know anyone and it seems they are coming in right in the middle of something. We have a secret code language and sometimes even a special secret side hug. They feel awkward unless someone takes them by the hand.

Sometimes I get so excited that my mind begins to race out of control and I can barely grab the thoughts as they are fleeting by. So here is one of the thoughts I was able to catch. One of the huge lessons I’ve been learning is to trust God.

It’s easy to say, “I trust God.” Living it out is completely different. If I am going to trust God, I must relinquish control of the situation and place it in his hands. Fear is the enemy of trust and keeps me from trusting, but God is love and his love diffuses fear.

Letting go of control is a process, but it is worth every step.

This schedule allows for little time to complete tasks at home. Those things like laundry, cleaning toilets, meal planning & preparation  have taken a back seat to our schedule.

I recently decided I needed a change. I was tired of being concerned about what needed to be done instead of just doing it . Many years ago, I used the Flylady system to clean and organize my house and it worked great. I knew I needed a modification of this system. I didn’t want a system to work me, I wanted to work the system.

I know my personality. I am a starter and for me to stick with this, the plan needed to be easy and start off small. This is not rocket science, it is very simple, but works for me.

In the morning when I get up:
Wake up
Make bed including all the pillows
Brush teeth
Get ready
*Wipe off the bathroom counter with a wet wipe (2X a week I use a Clorox wipe)
*Wipe around toilet & toilet seat with wet wipe (every other day-2X a week I use a Clorox wipe)
*Take toilet bowl brush and scrub inside toilet (every other day-once a week I use cleaner)
*Wipe out shower and tub with a wet wipe including walls of it (every other day-2X a week I use a Clorox wipe)
*Sweep bathroom floor (every other day)
*Empty the trash- I keep little grocery sacks under my sinks for this
Take any dishes or glasses out of bedroom
Put on one load of laundry to wash
Decide what is for dinner and make prep now. If you have a menu follow the menu.

Turn on dishwasher.

*Do the bathroom items for each bathroom you have. I am training my boys to wipe out the sink with a wet wipe after they brush their teeth.

Afternoon: while making dinner or before
Transfer laundry to dryer
If dishwasher was turned on in the morning, empty dishwasher & set table for dinner.

Before bed:
Sink emptied and scrubbed
Counters & appliances wiped down and everything put away
Pile on counter where mail lands, cleared
Pillows put on couch & loveseat in den
Stray dishes or glasses collected and put in dishwasher
Stray items returned to their homes
Kitchen floor swept
Clothes ready for tomorrow
Kitchen table wiped off and nothing on it.
Bath taken

I may delegate some of these items, but I try and make sure they are done each day. I am not perfect and some items may not get done every day, but for the most part they are done. This has made my life so much easier.  I am not trying to do more than these things right now except once a week I dust, mop and vacuum.

I am making these items habits in my life before moving on to really organizing anything. My house really isn’t out of control. I just needed a system to keep it clean. You can check out Flylady for more information.

In her post, “It Works for Me: The day before”, she makes a statement:

But one very practical thing I do is try to have nothing to do the next morning that ties me to yesterday.

The phrase “nothing that ties me to yesterday” rocked me hard. How many times have I carried things from today into tomorrow? What if I dealt with the issues of today and didn’t push them down deep? What if I really trusted God with today? What if I didn’t worry about tomorrow?

Sometimes, I get so caught up in planning tomorrow or next week that I forget to take care of today, to really trust God with everything for today. God isn’t asking me to accomplish everything on my own. On the contrary, he encourages me to trust him and be on a quest for his righteousness.

In Matthew, Jesus shares how important it is to trust him and how much energy I waste when I am anxious about anything. I’m thinking I should put these verses somewhere prominent. I may need to pull out my window markers again and mark up my bathroom mirror.

Matthew 6:25-28, 31-34

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

• Why am I doing this?

• Who am I doing this for?

There have been times in my life when I was so concerned with others thoughts of me, I was paralyzed. I was making decisions based on what I thought others wanted me to do, not on God’s plan and purpose for me. I am not a pawn to be moved around because I am scared to be me. God created me with all of my uniqueness, and he didn’t ask me to be someone else.

Jesus Christ gave his life and took my place. He exchanged all of my sin and shame for his grace when he went to the cross, died, and rose again. He is the only one who really matters. If I am doing and being who he has created me to be, then I am following my purpose.

I wasn’t placed on earth to perform for those around me. I know I might be entertaining by some of the funny things I do, but my purpose isn’t to perform for others.

Being a pastor’s wife is a different lifestyle with unique challenges. When most people are off on the weekend, this is our busiest time. Events are usually planned around others schedules not ours, so sometimes are weekend can be very full.

I can see these challenges as a mountain or a molehill. A mountain can take days, weeks or even months to climb. It can cause injury, extra resources and most are exhausted when they reach the top. A molehill and be hopped or stepped over with little effort.

I choose to take the molehill approach and make it a game. What molehill are you hopping over today?

My favorite time with her was when I was helping her with her bedtime routine. It was just me and her. We would get on a topic and out of her mouth would come little pearls of wisdom.

MawMaw and I discussed an interesting story in the Bible one night. In John 9, Jesus is with the disciples and he walks by a blind man. This man was born blind and the disciples want to know who had sinned, the man or his parents. Let’s stop here because this is where MawMaw and I stopped. Really? They asked if this man had sinned. He was born blind.  Yes, I know we are born with a sinful nature, but the disciples were looking for a cause for this mans blindness and they were grasping at anything, even though it didn’t make sense.

There was a reason, and it was because Jesus the Son of God came to show the world his power and the works of God by healing this man. Trying to figure out with my finite mind why someone is experiencing suffering isn’t in my job description as a Christ follower.

My job is to be an agent of  comfort and encouragement to the suffering.

Romans 12:15 & 16 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

I’ve said stupid things to people who were hurting because I didn’t ask God for wisdom first. Pray and ask God for wisdom.

James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God ,who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

It is not my job to solve the problem of the person who is suffering. Pray for them.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

Be a friend to the one who is suffering. Those who have experienced long time pain and suffering usually have few friends. Look at Job of the Bible. His friends weren’t true friends.

If you are concerned that someone you might be comforting is suffering due to sin, follow these same guidelines because only God knows for sure.

I’m on the hunt to find recipes and food we can all eat. It makes preparation and cooking so much easier. This recipe is now added to that list. Everyone loved this and it didn’t make me sick!

I found the recipe on a blog full of recipes but I changed it up a bit.

Gingerlemongirl.blogspot.com

Sweet and Sour Chicken (Gluten Free)

1-2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2-6 tablespoons oil, for frying chicken
-or-
Non-stick cooking spray or olive oil for spritzing on chicken for baking

Coating Ingredients:
1/2 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup white rice flour
1/2 cup sweet rice flour 1/2 cup GF pancake mix
1 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons garlic granules (like Spike)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion powder

Sauce Ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 1/2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 cup water
2 tablespoons GF soy sauce
3 tablespoons ketchup
Add a small can sliced pineapple with juice.

Directions:

1. In a medium-sized container with a tight fitting lid, mix all coating ingredients together. Add chicken pieces, replace lid tightly, and shake to coat chicken.

2. To Fry Chicken: Add oil to a large, heavy bottomed skillet and heat oil over medium-hot heat. Drop in coated chicken, and fry until chicken pieces are browned and fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.
To Bake Chicken: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spritz coated chicken with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes until chicken is crispy and cooked through. (Can make sauce while chicken is baking!)

3. In a large saucepan, whisk together all sauce ingredients. Heat until mixture boils, whisking/stirring constantly. Mixture will appear reddish-gray at first, just continue to whisk until mixture turns a translucent, glassy, bright red color. It may take 5-10 minutes for this to occur. When mixture turns that wonderful shiny bright red color, take it off the heat. Pour over chicken pieces and toss to coat. Serve over cooked rice or pasta with sauteed veggies!

Enjoy!

In my late 20′s, I began having issues with a rapid heart rate. Out of no where my heart would start racing and my blood pressure would drop. Then in my 30′s issues with my gut, the heart episodes became more frequent and periods of extreme fatigue began.

After a series of events, I found out these were all related to a gluten and dairy intolerance. I have since cut dairy and gluten out of my diet and feel so much better. Because this problem is more prevalent than I thought, I wanted to share my journey with you.

I first went on an elimination diet. I took gluten and dairy out of my diet. I then added each back individually to see my reaction. I reacted to both very negatively.

There are several resources I have used and I have them below. I hope this helps you find healing.

Resources
The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health–And What You Can Do to Take Control Now (This is the book I read)
by Dr. Shari Lieberman

Elanaspantry.com
theglutenfreehomemaker.com
glutenfreegoddess.com
Amazon.com-gluten free grocery