Ready or not, welcome to 2021! Grab a cup of coffee, your favorite mug, and join me. I'm sitting down after a busy day of cleaning and getting outside with family. After morning quiet time, I resisted the urge to read one more chapter of my current read (more about that later in this post) and began cleaning my kitchen early this morning before the kids were stirring. I've been on a week long mission to deep clean my kitchen and today happened to be wiping and sometimes scrubbing cabinets. When the cabinets were shiny and dust free, I took time declutter and wipe the inside of one cabinet. Then I moved on to my floor which I swept then spot scrubbed and mopped. I washed two loads of laundry and cooked breakfast just as the kids were beginning to wake. Bacon, sausage, and eggs smelled heavenly in our fresh smelling, clean kitchen.
Homeschooling went a little faster knowing we could get out into the sunshine after lunch. Everyone worked hard the last two days to finish in time to spend our early afternoon in the surprisingly nice January weather we've had.
Need some homemaking motivation? Check out Amy Maryon's latest video here. She inspires me with not only her cleaning, but her freezer meals as well. We tried her bowtie casserole recipe today for lunch. It was delicious. I think she calls it Jarrod's Casserole.
Since I shared my homemaking day with you, now I'd like to share my word for 2021. I've been growing in my walk with the Lord with baby steps. I've learned so much by getting into His word and during these sometimes difficult growth seasons, He's taught me to allow him to mold me and shape me. So as I share my word with you, I want to do so while humbly pointing to the Lord's leading. I want to do what pleases him, so my plans are tentative. I want to always seek my Heavenly Father's will in my life.
Intentional
1. With things on the world stage being what they are at this point in time, I want to intentionally strive to make my house a home for our family and others the Lord sees fit to bring to us for hospitality.
2. I want to be intentional about implementing ACE in our homeschool. We are slowly getting back into the rhythm, but my kids did not check their own PACES when we used it previously or fill out their own goal charts. I want to strive for them to be more independent since they are older now, so it is important for me to follow through.
3. The kids and I are beginning a one year Bible reading plan on YouVersion. I want to make sure this happens during our morning time.
4. I want to be intentional about losing weight. I hope to lose ten pounds by the end of January. So far I've lost six. I need to lose about thirty pounds in all. I'm cutting back, even the creamer in my coffee!
5. My fifth area is related to number one. In order to have a cozy home for our family and bless others with hospitality, I must be intentional about getting our home clean. So, I am working on the kitchen each day. When it is deep cleaned I think I will move to the dining room, since it needs redecorating. Right now it looks odd since we removed the Christmas tree. I like to decorate the table for Valentine's Day, so we will see how that goes.
What I Am Reading
Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life is a favorite of mine, so I am rereading it. I just made it to my very favorite chapter: The Heart of Worship.
Favorite Quotes:
"...surrendering to God is the heart of worship. It is the natural response to God's love and mercy."
"Surrendered hearts show up best in relationships. You don't edge others out, you don't demand your rights, and you aren't self serving when you're surrendered."
"Retirement is not the goal of a surrendered life."
I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency. Phillip 4:13 (Amp.)
"The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the alter..."
And so, I will work at my list above intentionally, as a sacrifice to the Lord, realizing that I must die to myself daily, as Paul says because I am likely to fail and must crawl back onto the alter.
Happy New Years! What is your word for 2021? Leave a comment below.
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