morning sunlight, after days of rain

fresh, light green, new grass sprouting

flowers in bloom

tending to the garden

lemonaide on the patio

burgers on the grill

birds at the bird feeder

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:9 (NASB)

Enjoy your weekend, my friends….

Keeping order in my pantry helps me in so many ways.  I know what I have at all times and  meal preparation and grocery shopping is much easier. 

If this is your first time doing a “pantry overhaul” a few things to consider before starting are:

• What’s working and what isn’t working
• What do you use and like to keep on hand
• Will the space accommodate the items after your trip to the market
• How does your pantry work with the other cabinets/drawers in the kitchen

As you consider the above start “unloading” the pantry items to a proper work space.

• Group items into categories similar to how you would find them at the market
• Properly dispose of items that are past the expiration date taking note of any items that you will need to repurchase
• Thoroughly wipe down the inside of the panty
• Create “zones” based on the categories that work for you and your household
• Adjust shelf height based on the types of foods and containers that will be stored to be sure that the pantry will be used to its fullest potential

Begin “reloading” the pantry in a way that works best for you!

The categories I use in my pantry include the following:

• Pasta and Sauces
• Mexican and Ethnic
• Grains, Nuts and Legumes (I use these items frequently therefore I do not refrigerate)
• Soups and Cooking Stock
• Baking
• Cereals
• Snacks
• Beverages
• Dog Food and Treats

This works well for my family.  I keep my spices, cooking oils and condiments near my prep area.

A Few More Tips:

• Label the edge of shelves for ease in returning items to the pantry or unloading groceries
• Label baskets and containers
• Post Weekly Menu, Grocery List, School Lunch Menu’s on the side of the pantry door
• Keep all items easily accessible
• When you purchase new items, bring the older items forward and place the new items behind
• Consider using expanding shelves and turntables

The above is a picture of Jason and Sabrina’s, my son and daughter-in-law, media closet.  They love having things organized and ready to be used (and returned)!

Remember your home is YOUR HOME!

• Organize your home in a way that works for you and your family
• Consider the needs, habits and tendencies of everyone in your household
• Allow your home to grow with you, your family and the different seasons of life

Keeping our refrigerators clean is important for our families health.  Keeping our refrigerators organized makes menu planning, food storage, food preparation and maintenance much easier!

Today’s Step:

• Remove food and contents.  Toss any expired food.  Place remaining food in a cooler with ice to keep it safe.
• Remove shelves and drawers.
• Wipe down interior with very warm soapy water. Rise with warm water and dry interior.
• Clean shelves and drawers.
• Replace food.  Wipe off any jars or containers that are dirty. 
• Create “zones” in your refrigerator for ease in retrieval; planning grocery lists; storage; visibility and accessibility.
• Follow the same steps for the freezer.

Every several months I pull my refrigerator out from the wall so I can carefully clean the area behind the unit.  Once a year I do a more thorough cleaning of the unit itself for proper care and maintenance.  Refer to your refrigerator owner’s manual for proper care, cleaning and maintenance of your unit.

Products / Resources:

A turn table is helpful to use in a refrigerator -

Flowers in bloom…

A bike ride…

Visiting with a friend…

A baseball game…

Fresh cut grass

A friend once asked me if I “live to organize?” However, the reality is that I don’t live to organize; I “organize to LIVE!”

 I have made it a way of life and it has made life delightful, easier and much less stressful! 

Today’s Steps: 

¨  Dust the top of the kitchen cabinets

¨  Wipe down the outside of the cabinets and drawers

            Tips and Caution:

• Have someone assist you in removing and replacing items from the top of the cabinets
• Use a sturdy ladder

The Beauty of Spring….

How wonderful to see so many things in bloom.  God’s creation is breathtaking…

I want to be able to enjoy this season while maintaining the continual responsibilities of tending to my home and family.  It’s time to open up the windows, let the gentle warm breeze flow through and  begin cleaning and organizing our spaces. 

Although it is hard work and seemingly insurmountable, it can be one enjoyable step at time! Find enjoyment in each “step” towards creating a home environment that is refreshing, nurturing and beautiful.  Every “step” is an accomplishment!  Purposefully set out to take that “one step.”  Enjoy the moment and delight in each step, each day.  The steps taken every day may seem small, and sometimes cause us to feel as though we are not making much progress. However, each day is progress and one step closer to accomplishment.  Stay focused on the tasks and you will get there.  Trust, pray and be deliberate.

Remember, we are setting out to be delightfully organized- every day, one day at a time.

Let’s begin this process focusing on the kitchen – the heart of the home.

Today’s steps:

¨  Kitchen – Remove the visible clutter from the surfaces in your kitchen (floor included!).  If some of the items have a “home” elsewhere, gather them in one area until you are finished. 

¨  Clean and disinfect counters, surfaces and floor.

¨  Take out the trash and recycling.

¨  Properly put away the items that belong elsewhere.

Ice-covered trees

Quiet wonder…. 

Simple ”everyday” pleasures yield abounding  joy…

We have a wonderful responsibility of making our homes a special place, a retreat, a safe haven.  A place where we can grow relationships and nurture our children.  Our homes should give us rest and a place for creativity. 

While functionality, simplicity and order are essential, our homes should be a place where we want  “to come home to”.  Where kids can be kids.  Where we can grow as a family. Where we can embrace hospitality and welcome friends!

People often ask me – How do we do that?  I truly believe we can do that through consistency, completeness, commitment and diligence.  Creating a habit of established routines that work for you and making a conscious, deliberate decision to maintain them.  Be flexible when needed, but get right back to them before you have to play “catch up”.  Once you are in a “catch up” mode, you feel like you are always trying to dig out.  All the while, more and more start to pile up, leaving you little or no time to get other important things done or simply rest. Keeping order in our homes doesn’t mean it has to be perfect, but neither should it be out of control.

It may seem ideological, but taking the next step and establishing these routines will make it possible.  My routines include tasks such as making the beds, maintaining laundry and putting clothing away, keeping the kitchen in order and the refrigerator full.  I have found that in consistently maintaining the areas that affect  daily living I can live life fully, abundantly and joyfully.

A quiet moment before the “busyness” of the day begins.  The stillness of the house; children soundly sleeping; last glimpses of the night sky.  Coffee fresh brewing, Bible opened.  I read the words spoken, taking in each one.  Word by word.  The words that are life to me.  Giving me daily strength, joy and encouragement.  The fresh start of a new day.  This is my first priority, to sit still and reflect, read, pray. 

Light breaks the day. 

Planning my week begins on Sunday.  I look at the calendar and the commitments, appointments and activities. I jot down the most important tasks that need to be done.  They are listed first. I plan my weekly menu and prepare my grocery list.  With three growing boys who always ask “what’s for dinner”, I plan.  It takes the stress out of getting dinner on the table!   I check the weather to see what’s happening and if any adjustments need to me made.  Now I can plan my “routines.”  Each day adds new tasks and the list grows.  I deliberately keep it manageable so I can complete my routines while enjoying my interests and passions.  Yes, sometimes things change, but that’s okay.  I adjust here and there and it seems to work out.  And you know, because I had a word from God by reading His Word to start the day, I’m even emotionally prepared for the surprises, because, let’s face it, they seem to find their way even when I think all is “under control.”