Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Making Wifely Duties a Routine Habit



Since my husband and I have moved into our own place, I have not only been progressively enjoying that aspect, but have also been working toward developing wifely routines.  Recently, I found in a box a weekly menu organizer I had handmade way before I was married.  My purpose for making it was to use it when I got married for when I had my own kitchen when I was responsible for getting the meals cooked.  I thought it would be a really simple way to let the whole family know what was going to be eaten that week without having to ask, just having to look on the fridge at the menu pad.  I used the menu last week, and I realized the reasons it’s good for me, as not only a member of the family, looking forward to what’s for dinner but as the cook too, to have the decision for the meals, already known and items picked up.  The first time I went grocery shopping using the menu, I had already filled out the menu for the next week, so I had a nice list for a guide for making the shopping list.  Last week, the meals were not thrown together last minute.  It’s been easier for me to cook and easier for my husband ‘cause he has gotten to eat nice meals. 
Something I also chose to do last week for a step toward progress for wifely routine habits is I found a short paper and quickly wrote the days of the week Monday through Saturday in a vertical row on the far left side.  I taped it from the top to the refrigerator next to the menu planner.  I wrote two chores next to one of the days last week.  It seemed to be a good day to get those specific chores completed because I realized as I did it that day, it worked well.  I’m leaving the simple paper on the fridge for this week to add to other days which imminently necessary chores are good for which day.


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Starting this blog



There is one main idea that inspires me to start this blog.  It is an older lady’s example to me.  The example from the older lady is ministering to people who are similar to her in that they are going through her same phase in life.  She is a widow, and as a small girl, I knew who her and her husband were because they went to our church, and by the time I had grown quite a bit older, her husband had passed away, and I learned that she had a time set aside Sunday afternoons to be a hostess to other widows in her town, to encourage them.  She said that for widows, Sunday afternoons are the loneliest times, and she ministered to people she knew the most about.  By having a ministry to those like her, she kept her eyes off of herself, considering others like her, however instead, and her ministry to them.  By focusing on others, she was ultimately keeping her eyes on the most unselfish One Whose entire life and purpose on earth was to minister and love and care for every one’s souls and then by dying for them to be a way of peace with God, and that is Jesus.  By seeking those out like herself and by encouraging them, she was ultimately encouraged.  Once, my older sister gave me a plaque with two pictures on it.  Both pictures were of her and me.  She designed the plaque with her lovely art skill, and the quote she hand-printed on beautifully was encouraging.  She had written this quote, “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”