my last menu lasted me three whole weeks...

...with absolutely no starving kids, husband, or self!!!  so what a doozey (that's a link to the last menu).  i do have a pantry stock-pile list that will make this next grocery run a bit more expensive, but how nice to only do this menu thing once every three weeks?!  i won't plan on it again, but i really just did what i did with what i had and what i had planned and it was good.  i threw in a few nights of frozen burritos and a night with tator tot casserole and i think for the most part that's all we winged.  we did have company in town that bought us dinner twice (that obviously always helps make food last!)  but anyway, on to this menu:

• spaghetti (is this always on my list?!  my kids request it every time i make a menu though, so if they want it?  i'll make it.)
• grilled burgers with baked beans.
• beef stroganoff (trying a new recipe) with green beans.
• chicken strips with "nana-mashed potatoes" (as per request) and peas.
• baked potato bar -full with chili and broccoli plus lots of others.
• fried chicken with salad, rolls, and jo-jo potato wedges.
• crock pot pork chops with crock pot mashed potatoes and granny green beans.
• a big beef roast with potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion.
• chicken parmesan with penne pasta and pasta sauce.
• baked potato soup with fresh homemade bread.
• layered chicken and black bean enchilada casserole (tweaked) with rice.
• chili and cornbread muffins.
• crock pot barbecue chicken with corn and garlic toast.

mmm.  now i'm hungry.  i'll put together the grocery list and get going!!! 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

marching with me

and the photographer is....

....

yeah, that's me.  i didn't photograph those last three though.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

identity crisis?

some moms have a difficult time coming to grips with their [new] life as a mother.  they feel like they are turning away from who their "identity" and becoming someone else: a mom.  they lead this "boring" life of serving others and putting their needs and wants last (if they indeed have the time to need or want!)
here's my outlook.  besides the fact that i truly LOVE being a mom and serving my husband and children, i haven't lost a single iota of how awesome and fun i am. 

here are some of the mom-things that i love:

• hugging my kids
• smooching my kids
• teaching my kids
• watching my kids
• watching them grow
• seeing them change
• coloring
• playing dress up
• playing lego's
• tickling
• playing horse
• playing tigers
• playing airplane
• laughing
• telling jokes/listening to most jokes
• walking
• jumping on the tramp
• swinging
• soccer
• baseball
• volleyball
• basketball
• football
• tennis
• racquetball
• climbing
• swinging from the rafters
• driving swervey
• cooking
• baking
• skipping
• jumping
• jumping rope
• hula-hooping
• racing
• playing games
• competing
• watching others play
• watching others enjoying life
• coaching
• cheering
• riding bicycles
• swimming
• teaching kiddos to swim
• water play
• slip 'n' slidin'
• reading stories aloud
• cuddling
• taking pictures of my littles
• correcting papers
• helping
• serving
• loving

here are some of the non-mom-centered things that i love:

• laughing
• outdoor recreation:
• hiking
• biking
• climbing
• camping
• rafting
• swimming
• cliff jumping (although adejay has accompanied me on one of these excursions)
• motorcycle riding
• dirt biking
• para-gliding
• traveling
• road trips
• driving
• dry-lake-bed-driving
• watching ufc fights
• watching college football
• watching movies
• blogging
• reading
• studying
• drawing
• photography
• eating
• cooking
• baking
• partying
• playing games
• competing
• spending time with fun people
• wine
• champagne
• sex
• dates
• softball
• volleyball
• basketball
• soccer
• football
• frisbee
• any physical game
• any non-physical game
• any in-between game
• cards
• anything competitive
• walking the dog and training him
• writing

this is me.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

struggling:

here's a brief list of some of the things that i struggle with:

• waking early.
• waking at all, these past several days.
• fighting/bickering kids.
• laziness.
• teaching character.
• showing character.
• motivation.
• time and time management.
• training children.
• messing up.
• primp and properness.
• time management.  whoops, did i add that again.  what a waste of time!
• setting time alone with God.
• spending one-on-one time with each of my family members.
• the realization of the world happenings.  (japan.  libia.  etc.)
• continuing my education through reading and studying.
• fighting off the world's influence in our lives.
• greed.
• selfishness.
• covetousness.
• keeping in touch with my extended family on a regular basis.
• healthy but quick lunches.
• babysitting discipline.
• being a perfect woman.  wife.  mother.  daughter.  sister.  friend.  niece.  granddaughter.  owner.  ...
• time management.
• home schooling.
• priorities.
• dusting.
• vacuuming.
• the trashy look outside our home.
• gardening.
• weeding!
• organization-ish.  space management i should say.
• blogging.
• focusing.
• staying on task until the task is complete.
• messy garage.
• and time management.

there's a lot that i do as a mother of five.  i'm not overwhelmed or anything.  but sometimes i will claim that i'm struggling.  any of the above bullet points could be the case at any certain time.  many of the bullet points could be the case.  i'm just a real woman doin' my best at what i feel God wants me to do and who he wants me to be.  i'm so thankful that He loves me and He gives me what i need to get through each day.  it's love.  i hope that i portray it to others (especially my children and husband) because i think that is my calling from Him.  love.  love.  love. 
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

things i chart

when one is aware of their fertility, via studying FAM (fertility awareness method), one is presumed to chart their cycles.  some choose not to, but when practicing FAM one should chart.  the three clues that FAM teaches awareness of are basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervical position.  other things that are important to chart would include sexual activity, stress level, and vaginal sensation. 
below i have compiled a list of things that i chart.  i find it immensely intriguing how the changing of our body's natural hormones also change the overall way my body works in so many different areas!

• basal body temperature (i set our phone to go off at 4:45 each morning.  i use the phone so i can grab it easily without having to rouse myself at all to turn it off.  i have a thermometer that softly beeps so that i know it's in the right place and to keep me coherent enough to remember what i'm doing while it records my basal body temperature.  it then beeps when it's done, lights up so that i can see what my temp was and then turns off.  my basal body temperature runs from 96.1 to 98.4 and is almost always in between 97.0 and 98.0)
• cervical fluid (i chart this throughout the day, just by observation when using the toilet.  it's really not as gross or invasive as i thought it would be when my sister told me about it.)
• sexual activity (i put a mark on the chart of every time my husband and i have intercourse.  i also make mention of another form of birth control was used, -ie. condom, withdrawal, etc.)
• vaginal sensation (i write if it seems my privates are wet or slippery or damp just on a daily basis anytime throughout the day.)
• stress level (it is important to note if you have a really stressful day.  stress can whack your hormones into a different routine if it's early in your cycle.)
• mood (i really like to chart if i'm being grumpy or irritable, happy, sad, gloomy, depressed, angry, moody, fickle, etc.  after charting for a few months, it's interesting to see a correlation of those moods and the cycle.  then an awareness starts to occur when i'm feeling a little less than "normal" and i can more easily change my mood purposefully in a more understanding way.)
• sexual desire (it's obvious that the hormones trigger a desire in one for their partner.  i like to chart that desire, whether it's strong or weak.  this helps me have a better affirmation that i can and i enjoy satisfying my husbands needs.)
• motivation level (sometimes i have lots of motivation and other days i just want to sit around and read... this level also correlates with hormone levels.  this is an awesome awareness that i can take hold of and use to my advantage.  when i know i have a productive week in which i'll get so much stuff done, it helps my esteem when there's a week when i just feel like i haven't done a blasted thing!)
• energy level (same is true with the actual energy level.  sometimes i feel really motivated, but don't have the energy...  that sucks.  but it's good to have record of these things.)
• sleep (if a night comes when i'm up a lot with sick kiddos, i will chart that.  it may have nothing to do with my hormones, but it could effect my cycle.  i will most likely effect my mood, my motivation, and my energy levels!)
• my complexion (yes!  zits come and go throughout the month and they are more prevalent at certain times... it's true.  i know because i chart!!!)
• the use of my shampoo vs. no-poo.  (i started charting this for 2 reasons.  1. i was concerned about my dry, flaky, itchy scalp.  and 2. i was wondering if the complexion was in correlation with the hair cleaner rather than the hormones.  because of charting, i was able to get answers for both of the concerns:  whether i used poo or no-poo i still had a dry, flaky, itchy scalp.  and the complexion isn't related to the hair products, but rather the cycle.)
• my period (i chart when i start and how long it lasts.)
• the length of the cycle (my cycles have ranged anywhere from 26 days up to 31.)

i find it interesting how my body works and why it's doing what it's doing.  i love charting and finding out new things about myself in this natural way.  i love that i can have moods, low motivation/energy, awful skin, itchy hair, and no sex drive and still have gumption enough to get up the next day. 
i don't have to lowly esteem myself for these things that happen to me...  there's nothing wrong with it.  God made me the way that i am and He knew what he was doing.  He knew i would need rest and encouragement and love and support and so He gave me wonderful people to help me (like my kids and husband). 
women especially, will degrade themselves because they were angry all day, or they didn't feel like they accomplished what they wanted to, or they feel they are ugly... our bodies are AMAZING.  God is so so soooooo wonderful.  we need to trust in Him, first and foremost.  He won't give us more than we can handle.  and then also trust that He knew what He was doing when he formed us and created us.  and then we need to praise Him! 
thank you, God for making me the way that You know is good.  thank you for giving me emotions and thoughts.  i love you!  please help me throughout this day.  turn my thoughts to what is true and good. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

the messiah

i read a great book this past week.  it was about the life of mary, mother of Jesus.  it was wonderful.  the book was entitled, unafraid by francine rivers.  i love francine rivers.  she's an awesome author! 
the book gave me a whole new perspective on the second coming of Christ.  God works in mysterious ways and sometimes when we look forward to something, we get an idea in our head of how we want it to happen.  God knows a much bigger picture and His way is best.  we need to continue our faith in complete trust of His will... 
did you know that mary had an older sister named mary?  did you know the name mary means "sea of bitterness"?  back in the day, not only did the parents want a son to carry on the family name (which perhaps you can imagine was vital), but also for the chance at having their son be the messiah.  mary's parents were bitter (doubly bitter) that they weren't given that opportunity in either of their offspring.  
i recommend this book, unafraid by francine rivers to anyone.  it's available at our library, so i'd suggest you see if you could check it out at yours...  francine rivers writes a series of five books like this one about five women in Christ's lineage. 
i also read unshaken, the one about ruth's life.  it also was very insightful and fun to read.  it was eye opening at the steadfast faith ruth had, especially as a new believer.  it was inspiring.  prayer really works! 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

and once again...

i've had ideas upon ideas of posts i could write about, but now that i have a bit of time to sit down and write... NOTHING!  blah...  this is not good.  i must start jotting down ideas or something!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
COMMENT BELOW

at least i'm not the only one

i am having a HARD time being motivated, or being inspired to write!!!  usually i have thoughts, inspirations, or just ideas fairly frequently throughout each day.  not so much the case lately! 
also, i'm having a REALLY HARD time adjusting to daylight savings time...  sunday wasn't hard, but sunday mornings are purposefully more laid back for our family.  i accidentally took a nap in the afternoon while we were "watching" a family movie.  that night i stayed up until 2am!!!  (and just so ya know... i'm a 9:30-10:30 go-to-sleep gal.)  anyway, needlesstosay i had to be dragged out of bed yesterday morning.  so last night i made sure and went to sleep in a timely manner.  however, this morning i still slept through one of my alarms.  (i have three.)  i have enough energy to get me through the day... i just need the gumption to get up. 
so, let that be a prayer request from me.  i need to get up on time and get the day ready for the family!
maybe the two of these subjects correlate, but i don't think so.  my blog dry-spell has been longer than these last few days i think. 
i'll dig into His word and see if that helps. 

on another 'nother note:  on saturday we had glorious beautiful weather.  a friend invited us to the park with them to play some ball.  it was just what we needed!!!  about halfway through, i noticed i was short a kid, so we spent the next 10 minutes searching for boo.  that was not a good heart therapy for me.  i cannot believe how busy that park was.  i mean it was the second weekend in march for cryin' in a bucket!  both parking lots were full and there were cars lined down the streets.  it was redunkulous!  also, it was scary to loose a child!!!  i kept telling them to stick close because they're so cute i was sure someone would 'nap them.  so then when we lost one (and one of the cutest) i was sick...  anyway, we did find her.  she was just playing on the slide with a gazillion-million other little ones...

we got a hooked on writing box of funness to work on with jones.  he's loving it and in fact he's bugging me that it's time to start school for him so i'd better go.

inspiration will come, don't fret.  i'll be back with many-a-posts.  soon my dear interested blog-friend.  soon.

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
COMMENT IF YOU WILL...

gramma's goulash

i love my gramma.  she was and always will be such an inspiration to me.  she was wonderful... much like the prov. 31 woman!  one of her most famous recipes was her goulash. 

currently i have in my possession a cookbook she made.  in it are various recipes that she liked.  following is the goulash recipe. 

gramma's recipes are great!  she totally was one of those cooks who just added things without measurements.  she wouldn't even measure them out my handfuls or pinches...  so this recipe was kinda daunting when i first looked at it!  here's my measurements (if you must)  :)

i used about 4 pounds of hamburger.  1 diced up onion (was planning on two, but the other was rotten.  gross.)  4 cans of chili con carne (without beans).  4 cans of stewed tomatoes.  the rest of the ketchup (?maybe about 1 c.?). 

this made WAY too much!  so, after mixing it all together and letting it cook for just a bit, i slopped half of it into a bag and it's in the freezer now.  it freezes great that way.  you unthaw it and mix it with cooked noodles and wa-lah! 
anyway... i only had a 12 oz. package of the extra large macaroni noodles, so i cooked them up and drained them.  then, i threw it all together.

i stirred it up, put a lid on it, and put it in the oven (at 350) for about an hour.

the way we always had goulash was with cottage cheese, a salad, milk, and gramma's almost-as-famous PHR's.  we had it with cottage cheese and had the PHR's for dessert because i don't know why, they just weren't ready with dinner.  and after dinner (before the PHR's even) my stomach hurt like it always did at gramma's house after dinner because i ate too much.  so, these measurements must be pretty accurate.  i love goulash and i sure miss gramma!



Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

it's tuesday again

each week this happens.  and it happened again today.  it was tuesday...
yesterday i attended my monthly bible study.  we studied some more about intimacy in our marriages.  it was a great time with good fellowship.  my friend (the one i refer to as "tenille") came and picked me up and dropped me back home afterward.  we were able to chat for about an hour sitting outside my house, after the study, talking and catching up.  i didn't get to bed until midnight, but it was all well worth it.  it was such a nice evening.  nice, but not perfect.  i got pretty red when i SPILLED my cup FULL of ice water and then TRIPPED on my way out of the isle to go get something to clean it up... it wasn't like we were in the front row or anything... we sat all the way in the second row instead.  yeah, i was truly embarrassed!  really really red! 
today aleemay got a real nice-sized goose egg on her head, right above her temple.  it was absolutely disgusting looking when it happened but we put some ice on it and now it's looking much healthier.  it was rather traumatizing. 

tonight i'm volunteering some time watching a few extra kids (4) for the evening.  (can you spot all 9 kids in the photo above?)  they're good sweet kids, so it's nice.  it looks heartwarming to see my living room full of kids too... :)  it makes me smile.  we've got my 12 year old, a 7 year old, two 6 year olds, two 4 year olds, my 2 year old, my 1 year old, and then a 10 month old (almost 11) = 6 girls and 3 boys.

i have thought of about 4 posts that i should blog about, but didn't write them down or anything, so the ideas are lost and gone now...  i hope you had a wonderful day!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

yum-diddly-upcious cookies

my friend (and sister) called me the other day and said she had created the most wonderful cookies ever.  this was a big statement, especially from her!  she's much like me:  a cookie monster!  we love cookies.  and yes, i truly mean L.O.V.E. from the bottom most depths of my heart. 
so, she explained that she pretty much just added peanut butter in substitution for a little butter she was missing in her basic chocolate chip cookie recipe.  i was surprised that peanut butter could be substituted for butter because even though they both say "butter" i've never thought of peanut butter that way.  i can't remember if she said she did anything else to the recipe, but she kept raving on how good they were.
i'm not nuts about peanut butter.  i'll eat a peanut butter cookie if it's offered while it's fresh (like, made that day), but i've been known to turn them down otherwise.  --i don't really know if it's true to say "i've been known..." because i highly doubt anyone has KNOWN me for something as silly as that... especially since i've also been known for not being sweet on sweets in general.  *for reals there.*  i L.O.V.E. cookies, but i can surely turn 'em down if i'm not in the mood for 'em.  i guess i'm just a walking contradiction...--  but back to what i was saying, i guess i was anxious to try out the new goodness added to the most delicious cookie ever: chocolate chip.
over the weekend otter pop had been asking me to make a batch of cookies.  i meant to make some on saturday, but rested instead.  then i just forgot on sunday because i was enjoying a life of leisure and more relaxation.  well then yesterday, on monday, otter gave me a guilt trip and i made them alongside dinner (because it was an easy low-maintenance dinner that was bonus awesome because it was also a new recipe AND delicious!).
so, were the cookies good?  no, they were awesome!  but i threw in a banana too.

• they were the perfect texture:  soft and chewy. 
•  they looked perfect:  round and plump. 
• and they had the great taste:  yummy and delicious.  just a hint of banana and peanut butter.

here's the recipe (and how i tweaked it):
OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES WITH PEANUT BUTTER AND BANANA
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter (i decreased the amount to about 3/4 c.)
(added the rest of the peanut butter in the jar... :)  i think it might have been about 1/4 or 1/3 c.)
(added 1 banana (peeled)  :))
mix and mash until it's all creamed together
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
mix together more
2 c. flour (i used whole wheat)
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. chocolate chips (i used four handfuls)
1 c. oatmeal (whole oats)
stir together until the dough looks and tastes PERFECTO... mm mm, i could've eaten all the dough had i let myself!
drop on large cookie sheet (20/sheet.  4X5.  they don't grow too much, so you can jam quite a bunch on the sheets) and bake for about 10 minutes (with convection setting, maybe 12 without) at 375.

too bad i can't upload the smell or taste because that photo doesn't do it justice!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

menu time!!! (can i hear a woop woop?!)

i just made a quick menu and am working on getting a grocery list prepared.  it was ironic that the last menu i made was kinda giving me a down feeling... nothing new.  but two of the meals were such a hit that i couldn't help but smile at God's grace in giving me such easy kids and a thankful family even when meals are boring! 
so, here's the menu for the next two weeks:

• that most delicious tortilla soup extravaganza recipe i ran across!  oh, my mouth's watering just thinking about it...
• meatloaf muffins: you just make meatloaf and put them in muffin tins and cave out a little ... uh cave? ... on the top and that's where you load up some mashed taters and sprinkle with cheese.
• new recipe:  balsamic glazed pork chops with basil rice pilaf .  um.  yum?!  we'll see.  :)
• chicken and broccoli and rice casserole
• gourmet tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches.  last time i tried this i made tomato soup with gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches... we'll switcheroo since the kids like plain sandwiches better and that makes it a heck of a lot easier for me!!!
• 'nother new recipe:  coconut chicken curry soup with jasmine rice .  um.  'nother yum?!  i hope.  :)
• stuffed shells with fresh green salad.
• gramma's goulash with cottage cheese.  -i might just post this recipe, since it's another family recipe we all love!!!
• BLT's with avocados and a super-happy husband
• spaghetti . maybe veggie spaghetti, maybe not.  we'll see how i feel...

so, what're you havin'?  you wanna share your menu?!

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

discoverings

1. we just got done watching "hearts in atlantis" (my husband and i).  it was really a great movie.  there aren't a whole lot of really great movies these days.  but, there are some.  and this was one.
2. i'm a real treat!  i love that i know i love to find cash in pockets.  so i do it for myself.  i stick random bills in pockets of pants that i know i seldom wear, or pockets of clothing that i don't usually use the pockets (like, oh a robe or something).  then, i'll find it at a later date and smile.  because people like to make others smile.... and i like to smile myself.  :)

i hope you have a great weekend.  i hope you discover some great things.  i hope you smile. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

true beauty

my dear daughters (and sons too, i suppose),

i want you to know that you are beautiful.  God TOTALLY knew what he was doing when He created you.  everything about you is so pretty (or handsome).  your uniqueness is awesome!  it's so neat to know that in the history of mankind, there has NEVER EVER been someone exactly like you.  EVER!  (and that's a whole lot of peeps!!!) 

you may not like your nose, or the shape of your eyebrows.  you may think that your ears stick out too much, or that your lip line is too thin.  you look at everyone else so much that you think there are things wrong with you, but remember THEY are looking at YOU the same way! 

they compare their looks to your looks and think THEY want to look more like YOU...  but that doesn't even matter.  you're beautiful!
i know, you don't believe me.  i don't care.  it doesn't matter.  God, knows and He agrees with me!!!!  God, the creator of the universe, loves you and everything about you.  He MADE you just the way you are because He thought it was perfectly perfect for the YOU He had in mind. 

i don't have holes in my ears.  why?  because God didn't put them there.  i guess he thought they looked fine without jewelry hanging from them. 
i don't pull out the hairs that i think are misplaced --just like i don't shave most hairs that i think don't belong.  why?  because God put them there and He thought they looked good or were purposeful in those places.  my eyebrows might not look like the face-model's eyebrows but they do look like God wanted them to!
i wear make-up when i feel like it, but i sure don't feel like i HAVE to!  people say it's because i have a good complexion, but i think i have my complexion because i don't wear make-up.  and really it's not good or great... it's just normal.  do i look prettier when i do wear make-up?  no.  i just look different.  God made me without make-up, so i look just the way He wanted me to look!  God thinks i look pretty!  (so does your dad.)

what else?  it doesn't matter.  you get the point.  right?  let's be real.  be comfortable with yourself.  be comfortable with who God made you to be and HOW he made you! 

true beauty is found on the inside anyway.  so even if you choose to put holes in your body to adorn jewelry on, or pull out hairs that you don't like, or shave your hairs you detest, or wear make-up... you're not making yourself any more beautiful than you were before you did it... just different.  because the beauty that matters is found not in the way you look, but in the way that you act!

 
Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

staying positive

i had my little prayer group today and it was great as usual.  one of my favorite topics of the meeting ended up centering around staying positive.  i don't feel like i'm a negative person, or that i'm constantly struggling with seeing the bright side of life, but it's always good to do an assessment and see if there are some areas in which you're focus is skewed. 
sometimes i find it hard to find positive reinforcements or positive discipline techniques.  lots of times i have to ask for suggestions just because i really struggle in thinking them up. 
sometimes i struggle with fighting pride or selfishness or self-centered thinking in my children so much that i end up nit-picking them in turn gearing them towards perfectionism in them self.  perfectionism leads to such an unhappy life... i wish i could catch myself in the act more often and slap me right out of it.  however, in balancing out healthy, happy, humble but self-assured children we also make sure and give the kids lots of praise and character compliments.  we're so far from perfect but we sure try hard to do the best with the gifts God has given us!
anyway, back to the subject of staying positive.  in our study it was brought up something along the lines of when reading the Bible to search for the TRUTHS about God in each verse.  or, like, when reading a verse i will write down what it says about God.  in psalms 31 i did it and here are some of words i used to describe God:  trustworthy, deliverer, listener, strong rock, saviour, defender, my rock and my fortress, guide, leader, my strength, redeemer, truth, merciful... (and that's just 6 verses)! 
so... maybe you can try it, but what comes from it is adoration for the Lord.  He is SO MUCH!  and it's all good.  and it turns your thoughts positive.  and good things come from positive thinking. 
something we do with our kiddos is when we find negativity in their heart or words or whatnot, we ask them to find three positive things to say or think on instead.  it's the same idea. 
turn your thoughts positive.  look to the goodness of God when you feel your life becoming negative.  smile.  laugh.  love.  pray! 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

the first day of march

i've been thinking a lot about the prov. 31 woman that i desire to be.  let me explain:

A Wife of Noble Character (Prov. 31:10-31 NLV)

 ^{10 [b]}Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
      She is more precious than rubies.   [i desire to be precious] ¹¹ Her husband can trust her,  [i desire to be trusted and trustworthy]      and she will greatly enrich his life.  [i desire to enrich my mr's life] ¹² She brings him good, not harm, 
      all the days of her life.  [i desire to never harm my man, and instead bring him GOOD -like Biblical good-good]
 ¹³ She finds wool and flax
      and busily spins it.  [i'm not sure about the desire i feel for this verse, except that i DO have a desire to knit and crochet more] ¹⁴ She is like a merchant’s ship,
      bringing her food from afar.  [i desire to grocery shop well -in a healthy, frugal, and whole way] ¹⁵ She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
      and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.  [i desire to do this in a heavily yearning way -especially the servant part j/k]
 ¹⁶ She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
      with her earnings she plants a vineyard.  [also consider this desired!  i would really love to plant fields and grow our food and then some] ¹⁷ She is energetic and strong, 
      a hard worker.  [i desire to be energetic, strong, and a hard worker.] ¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
      her lamp burns late into the night.  [i think desiring to wake up early and to be energetic, strong, and hard working leads me to the desire in this verse: to have profitable dealings]
 ¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,
      her fingers twisting fiber.  [i desire to have busy hands] ²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor
      and opens her arms to the needy.  [i desire to have a softer heart for God's will in my life] ²¹ She has no fear of winter for her household,
      for everyone has warm^[c] clothes.  [i desire to plan ahead and foresee the needs of my family]
 ²² She makes her own bedspreads.  [i desire to make some bedspreads and spend some more time loving my family by home-making things]      She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. 
 ²³ Her husband is well known at the city gates,
      where he sits with the other civic leaders.  [i desire to be a godly wife to the husband God gave me] ²⁴ She makes belted linen garments
      and sashes to sell to the merchants.  [i desire to hand-craft home items]
 ²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
      and she laughs without fear of the future.  [i desire to be a godly woman -full of strength and dignity and also full of laughter] ²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
      and she gives instructions with kindness.  [oh my desire is such: to be wise and kindly instruct!] ²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
      and suffers nothing from laziness. 
 ²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
      Her husband praises her:
 ²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
      but you surpass them all!”
 ³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
      but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. ³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
      Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

 

*sigh*

isn't that a wonderful most-of-a-chapter?!  i have so much to learn.  i have so far to go. 

*sigh*

but, here are some more specific desires in homemaking:  lotion, lip balm, quilts and blankets, clothes, more food, and home decor.  also i'm desiring to find more natural home remedies for things.  (yeah, that's a broad statement.)

also, i'm yearning to be more scheduled with the home-schooled learning schedule. 

 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."