Cloth Diapering: Wash routine

I have cloth diapered 2 babies, and let me tell you, it can really save some green. It's really quite fun, too!

I know, that probably sounds insane, but it is true.  These ain't your mamas cloth diapers :)

No pins are needed, and they come in the most adorable colors and prints!

What about washing?  Well, it's just like washing any other clothes, only the routine is a little bit more specific.  I keep mine in a regular, dry diaper pail.  Then, when it is time to wash (usually every other day or so), then I will empty the diapers into my washer and run a rinse cycle with nothing in it.  Then, I will add 2 Tbs of detergent and run it on a full, hot wash cycle set to the largest load size.  Then on additional rinse, and they are ready to dry.

Very simple.

How do you wash your cloth diapers?

Teaching our children

I am on a quest to train my children up in the way that they should go, and part of that is teaching them scripture.
One set of scriptures that is very important for any child or adult to know is the "Romans Road to Salvation."  This is a series of verses that allow you to show the path to salvation in the Book of Romans.

I made a printable which I will laminate or put in a sheet protector for our daily practice.

Feel free to use it in your own training endeavors!

Romans Road to Salvation Printable

Fiesta Chicken Lasagna Recipe

We are trying to use up the contents of our deep freezer and pantry because we are (hopefully) moving back to the mainland USA in about 6 weeks.

That being said, it has led to some real creativity in the kitchen on my part. Some of which has been successful, some of which.....well, you can guess the rest.

Last night, I knocked it out of the ball park.

I completely made this up and I have to say it is delicious.

Fiesta Chicken Lasagna
Ingredients:
1/2 pkg of lasagna noodles
1 can enhillada sauce
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (more or less)
1 can Rotel
shredded mozz cheese (or whatever cheese you have on hand)
1 onion, diced
EVOO

Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions. Set aside.

Sautee onion in sauce pan with EVOO until golden brown. Add shredded chicken, enchillada sauce, cream of chicken soup and rotel.  Stir and simmer until combined well. 

Spread small layer of chicken mixture in bottom on 13x9 baking dish.  Add layer of lasagna noodles.  Add layer of shredded cheese.  Alternate layering until pan is full. 

Either place in refrigerator until ready to bake or bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-45 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbling.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Routines

Amy over at New Nostalgia has a great post about Morning Routines which has inspired me to make my own. I use Cozi which is an awesome free online planner. Seriously. I. love. it. and. it. is. free. Winning combination in my book.

Anywhoo, I like to use that to plan out my days and make a to-do list. But I think a morning routine is just what I need to get my mornings off to the right start.

I recently checked out Life Management for Busy Women: Living Out God's Plan with Passion and Purpose from the library here and I have been going through it. Great book. One of the thing she really emphasizes as a key to success is a daily quiet time. The concept is time, first time, and early time.

In other words, you need to give time to the Lord daily, make it your first or best time, and make it early. I have always fought this concept because I am not a morning person. And I have a baby who wakes me up at night. But I really feel that she is absolutely right in this---starting your day off with quiet time, just you and the Lord before anyone else is up, is an excellent habit.

And it starts now.

I'm not going to be perfect, but I am going to make it a priority.

So here is my new morning routine:

Wake up before anyone else.
Quiet time with the Lord.
Check/revise calendar and to-do list.
Make a hot breakfast for family.
Make beds.
Eat breakfast with family/family devotional.
Get kids ready for whatever they need to do.
Reset laundry for the new day.

I'm going to try it tomorrow morning.

Do you guys have a morning routine?

He will act

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and He will act.
He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
—Psalm 37:3-6


We are a military family facing the prospect of the government shut down and not getting paid. We are also in limbo as to whether or not we will be moving across the pacific ocean in a matter of weeks. We got rear ended a couple of days ago and my neck was sprained in the accident. Then yesterday my husbands car broke down.

All of these things have caused me to despair. To say "Why, Lord?"

I do not know the answer.

Thank God for my sweet, level-headed husband. In the face of all this he says "But there are so many wonderful things in our lives to be thankful for; let us rest in that."

And I will. I woke this morning, after having done an intensive bible study, feeling hopeful and refreshed. All my "what-ifs" have melted away into "so what? He is in control. What will be will be."

God is so good. Have faith in Him today.

My soul continually remembers it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:20-23

Don't Waste your Homemaking: Sleeping Tips

Don't Waste your Homemaking: Sleeping Tips
posted this great vlog all about sleep! Thought I would share--go check it out!

I myself still wake up 6-7 times per night with my 9 month old nursing baby.....working on the sleep thing :)

My Tin Can List

It's sorta like a bucket list, but for the down-home simple mama like me who can't go gallivanting around the world climbing Mt. Everest and the like.

So here goes....my-right-where-I-am, in-this-season-of-my-life bucket list....

My Tin Can List

1) Make each of the kids a quilt

2) Make dh a quilt for work

3) Make a quilt for our bed

4) Learn to crochet well (I can't seem to get past Single Chain!)

5) Crochet some doilies

6 ) Learn to embroider well (I can do basic embroidery, but would like to learn more stitches)

7) Sew aprons for everyone  in progress, sewed one for DD#1

8) Learn to knit well (I can knit, just not well enough to make anything beyond the "rectangular" items)

9) Have a vegetable garden   growing tomatoes right now, waiting to see if we move before we do more

10) Have a cut flower garden

11) Sew a patchwork tablecloth for our table

12) Find a craft that I do it as charity work regularly

13) Make a real housekeeping schedule and stick to it

14) Have a successful blog (I have no idea what the parameters are for this one  lol)

15) Have a 2 week dinner plan/rotation that works for me

16) Have a budget and stick to it    in progress this month

17) Faithfully pay off the car

18) Faithfully save for retirement

19) Learn CPR    in progress, found an online course at AHA.org!

Do y'all have a tin can list of sorts?  

I'll keep y'all updated on mine. :)

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... is my new flag that I got for springtime at Target this week on clearance for 3.49!
I am thinking... that I am getting better at this housekeeping thing, but still have a lot of work to do.
I am thankful for... my savior, my wonderful husband, my 3 precious children, for the soldiers that are defending our freedom.
From the kitchen...needing to decide what to make for dinner tonight.  Something quick cause I'm taking the kiddos to the pool.
I am wearing... capris and a t-shirt.  It's technically a maternity shirt, and there's no bun in this oven :)
I am creating... in my mind, pillowcase dresses for the girls for easter....we'll see if I have the time to make them.
I am going...to the pool with the kids later
I am reading... James Herriot
I am hoping... that we will get to transfer
I am hearing... the kids playing a spelling game on the computer that I picked up at the thrift shop
Around the house... I am trying to make some "re-organizational changes"
One of my favorite things... is to have my house very clean.  Once in a blue moon, dears.
A few plans for the rest of the week:  DH will actually be home every night so we plan on having lots of fun family time.
Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Please visit the Simple Womans Daybook blog and see what other simple ladies are up to!

The Legacy of Home

The Christian Home Magazine at The Legacy of Home
The Legacy of Home (a blog I love) is hosting a blog carnival about the Christian Home--it was an encouragement to me today! Check it out ;)

Waiting on the Lord

Waiting.  It is difficult to do.

Right now we are waiting, waiting, and have been waiting for months to hear news about my husband's job.  Will we transfer, will we stay where we are, there has even been question of him losing his job.

Some days the strain becomes too much for me.  These are the days I realize that I am not leaning on the Lord as I should be.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.
Ps 62:5 NLT

Will you trust Him today with all your needs?

This season of waiting has reminded me of one of my favorite hymns, "Turn you eyes upon Jesus."
Enjoy this beautiful reminder of of Savior's love for us.


Remember to turn off the music from this blog before you press play :)

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Making Family Devotions Happen

Family devotions are so important .  I know it.  Yet sometimes I go through spells where we neglect them. 

My husband is gone a lot for work, so usually the buck passes to me.  I find it a challenge to remember to do them sometimes, but I have a very simple strategy that helps me to remember to do them.

It’s so simple that I hesitate to even post about it, but it’s one of those things that has revolutionized our morning routine so I decided to share it with you.

Leave your family bible/devotion book at your place at the table.  All the time.  Like, that’s where it lives. 

I told you it was ridiculously simple.

But there you have it.  Every morning when my husband or I sit down at the table to breakfast), it’s there, reminding me to make God the foundation of our day.

 (I occupy my husband’s seat at the dinner table when he is gone—no symbolism intended.  It’s a matter of strategic geography)

There are many good choices for family devotionals.  Two that are free that I love are Open Windows and Our Daily Bread.  We can get either one or both of these for free at our church, but you can also order them online.  I like Open Windows because there is also a section listing missionaries’ birthdays so that you can pray for them on their special day.

One resource that is not free but that we love is a delightful book entitled
Leading Little Ones to God: A Child's Book of Bible Teachings.

It includes a devotional, bible story and song selection for each day.

How do you do your family devotional?  Any great books?

Disclaimer: The link to Leading Little Ones to God is an affiliate link and if you click through to purchase the product, I will earn a small percentage of the sale price.  If you feel uncomfortable with that idea, open a new window and search for the product through amazon.com. :)

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Head in the clouds

Contentment.   Some of us struggle with it (puts bag on her head).  

For me, it’s not that I am not grateful for what I have—I am.  Very.

And it’s not that I doubt that this is where God has placed me in this season of my life.  Blessedly at home.

I am so, so blessed to be able to stay at home with my children.  It’s a privilege that many women in this day and age, due to varying circumstances, do not have the privilege to do.  

But some days, I have this feeling that I need a change.  I need to get out, to stretch my wings, to realize my “potential.”   I long to return to school, or have days of leisure where I don’t hear “mommy” 10 million times an hour.

From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Ps61:2

Does anyone else struggle as I do with feeling fine just where they are?

Some days I spend so much time in the clouds, when the real sunshine is down here, in my wonderful life I am so blessed to call my own.

You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.  Ps 16:11

I resolve to be contented with where the Lord has placed me in this season.  To cherish the moments, the everyday moments that are fluttering by.  Before I know it, this season will end.  I want to be able to remember these blessed times.

10 Tips for an Economical Easter

Plastic grass.  Cadberry cream eggs.  Peeps.  Remind you of anything? Yep, dear readers, that's right.  Easter is right around the corner.  And you mommies know what that means---time to start thinking about easter baskets again so that you don't forget until the night before and end up going out and buying one of those overpriced, giant, cellophane wrapped monsters at Walgreens.
 

Being on a single income, I need to be creative.  Here are my list of hints to have an economical Easter:

1) This one seems obvious, but do not buy one of those overpriced, giant, cellophane wrapped monsters at Walgreens.   Case in point.


2) Re-use the Easter basket/eggs/grass from last year. Try and keep your laughing to a minimum, dear. I may be too late for many of you on this one, but you can save yourself a good amount of green over the 10 years or so that each of your children will need a basket (or more...my last Easter basket as a "kid" was hidden in my wedding dress that was sitting in my closet leading up to the big day).  Just make sure to put it away in a safe spot this year.  And buy something durable.

3)Use a smaller basket.

4) Think volume, not numbers.  In other words, when putting together your basket for your kids, find things that take up a lot of room, but don't cost alot.  One thing I got for the baskets this year was bags of Easter-themed marshmallows which were on sale for .89 a bag.   They take up a huge amount of space in there! This will save you money as opposed to buying gajillions  of itty bitty things and then buying more cause the basket looks "empty"

5)Give them things that you were needing to get them anyways. This applies to all holidays.  For example, if your kid needs more crayons, put them in the Easter basket.  Flip flops broke? What better spring gift than a new pair?  Running low on construction paper? Perfect.  That one will take up a lot of room.

6)Take the kiddos to community and church sponsored events that are free.  Re-use the little plastic eggs (etc) that you will inevitably accumulate.

7)Make Mexican confetti eggs.  Martha Stewart has a great tutorial.  In order for this to be saving money the eggs contents must be used :)

8)Instead of making an Easter basket, stage your own Easter egg hunt in your home.  Fill eggs with a few jelly beans each, and in some, put "tickets" to redeem with mom for inexpensive or handmade prizes. 

9)When dyeing eggs, you needn't purchase an egg dyeing kit.  All you need are some plastic cups, vinegar, water, and food color. (And eggs, of course)

10) And lastly, consider focusing less on the "stuff", and more on the Savior.

Clean it, Clean it good!

Something that I really enjoy dabbling in is making your own cleaning products.  You can truly make these for pennies on the dollar to the storebought varietes, and they really are just as effective!  Here are some of my favorite recipes.
For Disinfecting:
I use a dilluted bleach solution, the ratio being 4 teaspoons bleach to 2 cups water (which is the same as the 3/4 cup bleach to one gallon water that is reccomended by health agencies, but I had to downsize it because I haven't had that big of a mess yet.)  This fits nicely in one of those 16 oz sprayer bottles found in the cleaning tools seciton at your local Wal-Mart.  Just make sure to label this bottle with what is in there (amounts and everything.)  Mine says "Bleach Solution, 2 cups water to 4 tsp bleach)
This solution works great, and just leaves a very slight bleach odor.  It's great for bathroom floors, counters, toilets, kitchen counters, etc, to disinfect them.  Just spray it on there, leave it to set for a couple minutes, then wipe off and rinse and let dry.  Super clean!
I worked this out to only costing 4 cents per 16 oz bottle---what an incredible savings!
For Shining Windows and Mirrors:
A simple solution of 1/2 water and 1/2 white vinegar (in a 16 oz spray bottle, you can just use 1 cup water and 1 cup vinegar.) This is fantastic for a streak-free shine.  You can wipe it with a microfiber towel or newspaper to save on the cost of paper towels.  You can also shine the faucet fixtures with this mixture.
Scouring Powder (a.k.a. Ajax)
You can simply use baking soda and it works great!  Just use exactly as you would use ajax or any other abraisive scouring powder.
Drain Cleaner
Remember that science project when you were a kid where you mixed vinegar and baking soda to make a volcano? Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then add 1/2 cup vinegar.
Links to more "from scratch" cleaner and laundry recipes:
Make your own laundry detergent with the Duggar Family (scroll down to see a recipe for both liquid and powdered)
Homemade all-purpose cleaner, Homemade Soft Scrub, and Homemade Oxiclean recipes all at MoreWithLessToday.
Floor Cleaner and Furniture Polish at TheDesignSPonge
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