I had a great time in Kentucky this week visiting an aunt and a cousin that were passing through. I hadn’t seen them in years, so we had a good time catching up. Another day we had an early celebration of my parent’s 55th wedding anniversary, which is next week. We had lunch at a lovely place in Lexington. It was kind of special that it was just the five of us – we love our husband’s, but it was kind of nice being able to share this meal with the immediate family. I feel so very blessed to have parents who have stayed married all these years!

After being gone three days and two nights I believe my husband was pretty glad to have me home. You know how I love Andy Griffith – in one episode Peggy comes in and makes a meal for Andy and Opie while Aunt Bea is away. She adds candlelight to the table, tells Andy to get his guitar and sing, and just brings a special touch to the home and suppertime. Opie notices that things are different after her arrival and asks his dad, “What’s the difference?” Andy’s answer is, “There’s a woman in the house!”

While I was away my husband kept things in their place, warmed up the plate I left him, and took care of himself, but after I got home and busied around doing this and that he came to me and said, “There’s a woman in the house!” We women should make a difference.

This month our ladies’ Bible study is on “A Heart for your Home.” Elizabeth talks about the fact that we are to manage and keep our homes. It doesn’t matter how many people live in your home – whether it’s just you or you have a house full of people, it’s really up to the woman – you, to add those special touches and make your house a home.

Anyone can throw in laundry, put a meal in the oven, or live in a house, but it’s up to us to make it special. It takes work, doesn’t it? We already have plenty of that to do, but if you’re going to make a meal, why not make it special by the way you serve it? Put it on a pretty platter with a garnish of fresh herbs. Sprinkle dried parsley over the potatoes for some color. Add a seasonal flower arrangement to the table. Put a fresh tablecloth or place mats on the table. Use candles occasionally.

In our lesson, Elizabeth had us do an assignment that I thought was a great idea. We were to take a walk through the house with a pad of paper and pen. As we looked at each room we were to note things that needed attention and make notes. Does something need a coat of paint? Is something broken? What needs to be cleaned, straightened or organized? After making the list, we were encouraged to tackle those needs one at a time until they were all taken care of.

My list was long, but I’ve gotten lots done already! Some of those things required our “handy man” and dear church member’s help, but he was willing and several things have been taken care of! I’ll continue to work through my list until it’s finished. Our husbands don’t always see these little things that need to be done. It’s up to us to manage the house and look after the details of it so it is taken care of and is a place of comfort – a respite for our family.

I’d encourage you to try Elizabeth’s plan. Walk through your house, and with a critical eye, look for things that need to be cleaned, fixed or updated. Then begin making your way through that list. Having it written down and posted somewhere will keep you motivated. Reward yourself when you get all done! It may take weeks, but do a little at a time.

Tomorrow is the first day of spring! So, look for special touches you can add – to a room, a shelf, your front entryway, or a meal. Let it be very obvious that there’s a woman in the house!

See you in church Sunday and Happy Spring!

With love,

Hello my blogging Friends,
I’ve run to Kentucky to be with family for a few days, so I won’t be putting up a new post until later in the week. I’ll see you then! I’m looking forward to the refreshment that a mini vacation will bring!

Thanks for checking back later!
With love,

We had the wonderful privilege of spending the afternoon yesterday touring The Biltmore Estates. If you’ve been, you know how breathtakingly beautiful it is. It is beyond my comprehension that it was a family dwelling. There are 35 bedrooms and 45 bathrooms! That’s a lot of sheets to change and sinks to clean, but of course all the work was done by the 35-50 servants. Its size is mind boggling, its decorations lavish, and its detail staggering!

I said it and I’ve heard others ask the same question – can you imagine living there? Without those ropes that guide guests through the hallways, I can guarantee you I’d get lost going to the kitchen for a late-night snack! They must have had many guests – that I would love. No worry about everyone bumping into each other in the dining area – their dining table seats 150! I might not want to really live there, but I sure enjoy visiting. As a matter of fact, I’d love to see it in each season…sounds like I need a season pass one year. I’ll put that on my prayer requests. 🙂

Most of us will never enjoy extravagant daily living like the that in this life, but my mind certainly went to my heavenly home yesterday as we toured the Biltmore! The Bible says that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for those that have trusted Him as Savior. I have no idea if we’ll each have our own home or mansion, but I know that whatever Jesus provides will be perfect. There will be no renovation needed in 100 years, like the Biltmore has had to have! Nothing will wear out, grow old, or malfunction! We won’t need beds or bedrooms, for we won’t sleep. It will always be light there in that place where the glory of God will light the day. The streets will be gold and the gates’ hinges will be pearls. The neighbors will be perfect too, for each one will no longer have an old sin nature (praise the Lord!). The grass won’t turn brown, the flowers won’t die, and the foundation won’t crack. Its Builder and Maker is the God who loves us and has provided life eternal through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whatever hard thing you going through now, keep your eye towards heaven. Remind yourself that One day those that know Christ will be raptured out of here! As we wait, let’s do as I heard a radio preacher say recently – let’s be real estate agents for heaven! Let’s tell others about an eternal home and make sure they have the assurance that they will be with Christ and live in the place He has prepared for them.

Most of us don’t have a house like The Biltmore, but one day our heavenly home will be far better than even the Vanderbilt’s could’ve imagined. I pray they knew Christ and have gone on to enjoy their heavenly home, but while you and I have the opportunity, we must each accept Christ as Savior and secure the promise that heaven is our home. Are you sure you’re going there when you die? Don’t miss it!

Because I care,

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

I walked into the house yesterday after being gone all morning and was greeted by the aroma of London broil cooking for our supper. As Rachel Ray says, “yummo!” All I needed to do was warm up the rice I’d made, cook the frozen peas, and make a salad, and the meal was ready. I love to have the main course of our supper/dinner well on the way early in the day. I truly feel like I’ve already accomplished much when that part is taken care of!

If you follow my blog with any regularity you know that on Monday I post “What’s Cookin‘ in the Parsonage?” I had someone say to me yesterday, “Okay, but we want to know how you schedule all this, when you get it ready for Sunday, how it all happens.”

So I’ll try to share my simple plan with you. Many of you probably already do all this, but if you need some encouragement and help with getting things ready for dinner, Sunday, or any night of the week, read on.

1. Plan the weekly menu – I sit down on Monday and look at my week and see when we’ll be gone, when I may need a quick-fix meal, when I’m having guests, etc., so I know what is needed for each day.

I even plan out how I can use the leftovers on another night in a creative way. For instance, we had the London broil last night, and later this week I’m using the leftover meat to have beef burritos. This will be one of my quick-fix meals because the meat is already cooked. Last week I roasted a chicken. With the leftovers I made pot pies one night, and then used the last bit of the white meat on my Hawaiian pizza. I like to disguise leftovers!

2. Make out the grocery list – I do this as I plan the meals. I try to use up the things I have on hand. Writing out the grocery list while making up your menu keeps you from buying green beans when you already have three cans in your cupboard, or from neglecting to buy the special ingredient needed for the new dessert you’re going to make.

3. Put the plan into action – Since you know what you’re going to fix all week, you can have the meat thawed in advance, or you can prep the salad ingredients early in the day. I was able to pop the London broil into the crock pot in the morning because I’d thawed it the night before and had all the other ingredients ready to go.

Think ahead. If you need cooked chicken breasts for a pot pie, and you have your oven on to bake or roast something else, go ahead and roast the chicken breasts early. Brown two pounds of hamburger – one for your sloppy joes and keep back one pound for your lasagna.

Because you’ve planned your menu and gotten the groceries for everything you’re making, Sunday dinner should be much easier. Many things can be prepared ahead of time – jello salad, breads and dessert if you work throughout the week.

I found a new web-site that is really helpful. It’s http://allrecipes.com/. If you have an ingredient you want to use, but don’t know a recipe that calls for it, go to the “ingredient” page, type in the ingredient you have and it will bring up recipes for you! I typed in some random things just to see what it would produce, and I found some interesting recipes! You can read the reviews on the recipes which is really helpful. If it has lots of poor reviews I by-pass it! It was here that I found the recipe for my London Broil. I wasn’t sure how to cook it. This recipe had great comments about how tender this is when cooked in the manner they suggested. It was great!

Meal time is an important family time and it takes effort to pull it all together, but the effort is really worth it!

I hope this helps. Are there other questions that have come to your mind? Ask! I’ll be happy to find an answer for you! Or if you have a good tip of something you do, please share it!