Last year, I (thought I) gave up complaining about housework. In reality, I gave up housework!
Why would I do such a thing? Because I was working on earning the worlds greatest martyr badge! In honesty I did not give up housework for the whole year, and I did struggle and wrestle with my responsibility.
Through prayer and spiritual direction, I came to understand that housework is an alter of sacrifice. There are many alters in our lives where God calls us to give Him the best of ourselves. The challenge is to recognize them and then to be willing to make the sacrifice that is called for.
Making a sacrifice does not entail becoming a doormat. It requires one to see what needs to be done, recognize the call to do it and answer the call. As a wife and mother, my alters are many - taking care of my husband and taking care of child are the big ones..... these include many other smaller tasks such as laundry, cooking healthy food, washing dishes, keeping a neat house, helping with homework, reading stories, driving the car to/from sports, school and other events.... If this is service done in love for my family, I win stars for my crown. If I complain and make life miserable I do not win stars, I create my own purgatory or perhaps even a living hell.
At this moment I can choose heaven or hell.... by my actions and words, I can create heaven or hell for the people around me, especially my family.
So for lent, I am giving up facebook on my phone and complaining.... I am not giving up housework or cooking. I am embracing my responsibility as a wife and mother because I love my family and I love that God gifted me with the blessing of these people around me. I pray that I will be given the grace to enjoy the journey.
I am also reading Henri Nouwen's book - The Return of the Prodigal Son.
For dinner tonight -
Chili and corn bread
Chili is made with canned kidney beans, canned tomatoes and ground beef. Very easy... I'll write directions out at some other point, but mostly it is just a thrown together dinner.
Sara
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
And a child will lead them to better habits.... maybe
So in the good news/bad news department today we have a new habit to acquire....
Flossing our teeth
Two out of three members of this household went to the dentist today. (Actually, all three of us went to the dentist, but only two had appointments.... somebody was just the chauffer...hee hee)
These two members of the household BOTH were discovered to have cavities. And both parties were told that these could have been prevented by regular use of dental floss and mouthwash...
So, this evening, after dinner, after a shower, 2/3 of us brushed AND flossed AND rinsed teeth with flouride mouth rinse (actually, mine was just regular mouth wash - I need to get some adult flavored flouride mouth rinse... bubble gum just doesn't do much for me!)
I am hoping that our good example will inspire the remaining 1/3 of us to do what we did before going to bed.
Oh, and about dinner - well eaten by all but one mildly picky eater.... who complained of hunger pains before bed, but was refused a snack because dinner was mildly rejected (mashed potato - not the preferred method of potato consumption).
Mark deboned the chicken and it is now ready to be turned into chicken taco salad or burrito tomorrow evening.
Leftover mashed potato may be turned into potato latke (pancakes) later this week.... those will be eaten up lickety split! Delish with raspberry jam and a little sour cream....hmmm good lenten food. (non lent - add ham!)
More ramblings later.
Tomorrow brings a short, busy morning at work, lunch with a dear friend and the gift of confession - methinks I will be ready for a good lent.
Flossing our teeth
Two out of three members of this household went to the dentist today. (Actually, all three of us went to the dentist, but only two had appointments.... somebody was just the chauffer...hee hee)
These two members of the household BOTH were discovered to have cavities. And both parties were told that these could have been prevented by regular use of dental floss and mouthwash...
So, this evening, after dinner, after a shower, 2/3 of us brushed AND flossed AND rinsed teeth with flouride mouth rinse (actually, mine was just regular mouth wash - I need to get some adult flavored flouride mouth rinse... bubble gum just doesn't do much for me!)
I am hoping that our good example will inspire the remaining 1/3 of us to do what we did before going to bed.
Oh, and about dinner - well eaten by all but one mildly picky eater.... who complained of hunger pains before bed, but was refused a snack because dinner was mildly rejected (mashed potato - not the preferred method of potato consumption).
Mark deboned the chicken and it is now ready to be turned into chicken taco salad or burrito tomorrow evening.
Leftover mashed potato may be turned into potato latke (pancakes) later this week.... those will be eaten up lickety split! Delish with raspberry jam and a little sour cream....hmmm good lenten food. (non lent - add ham!)
More ramblings later.
Tomorrow brings a short, busy morning at work, lunch with a dear friend and the gift of confession - methinks I will be ready for a good lent.
What's for supper?
So answering Kathleen's request, here's the dinner menu in my house tonight:
Roast Chicken (roasted in the crockpot)
Mashed potatoes
steamed asparagus
Tomorrow evening:
Chicken burrito or taco salad with corn and blackbeans
It's relatively easy and cheap....
I bought a whole chicken and put it in the crockpot this morning (around 10:45am) I used a chicken spice rub on the bird - just sprinkled it on, put the lid on the crockpot, turned it on low and walked away. You can use taco seasoning, Season All, or Italian seasoning depending on the flavor that you are looking for.... I have a bunch of whole chicken in the crockpot ideas....
After 6 hours, the chicken is cooked and ready to fall off the bone. I'll cut it up after I take it out of the crockpot.
I am making mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus because the asparagus was on sale.
After dinner, I (or Mark) will debone the remaining meat off the chicken. That meat along with a can of kernel corn and a can of black beans and probably a packet of taco seasoning will become the base for taco salad / burritos tomorrow evening. Will add green salad, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa and sour cream. Served on tortilla chips or rolled up in a tortilla.
Both dishes are relatively low carb, although you have to be careful of serving size if you are watching carbs (esp. with the mashed potato)
Happy Eating!
Sara
P.S. May add some sliced fruit - we have kiwi and mango in the house that need eating...
Roast Chicken (roasted in the crockpot)
Mashed potatoes
steamed asparagus
Tomorrow evening:
Chicken burrito or taco salad with corn and blackbeans
It's relatively easy and cheap....
I bought a whole chicken and put it in the crockpot this morning (around 10:45am) I used a chicken spice rub on the bird - just sprinkled it on, put the lid on the crockpot, turned it on low and walked away. You can use taco seasoning, Season All, or Italian seasoning depending on the flavor that you are looking for.... I have a bunch of whole chicken in the crockpot ideas....
After 6 hours, the chicken is cooked and ready to fall off the bone. I'll cut it up after I take it out of the crockpot.
I am making mashed potatoes and steamed asparagus because the asparagus was on sale.
After dinner, I (or Mark) will debone the remaining meat off the chicken. That meat along with a can of kernel corn and a can of black beans and probably a packet of taco seasoning will become the base for taco salad / burritos tomorrow evening. Will add green salad, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa and sour cream. Served on tortilla chips or rolled up in a tortilla.
Both dishes are relatively low carb, although you have to be careful of serving size if you are watching carbs (esp. with the mashed potato)
Happy Eating!
Sara
P.S. May add some sliced fruit - we have kiwi and mango in the house that need eating...
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