Christian Homekeeping

I've been through more decor in the past 8 years than probably most of you have been through in your entire life!  I have always liked the modern look and that is what my Air Force dorm was decorated in.  My room back home even was always a bit on the 'crazy' side lol.  I had BRIGHT yellow walls and multi-colored accessories and I had designed it myself much to my mom's disliking.

Then when I got married, I figured I would have to decorate like my mom and sisters and so worked with what we had in our first apartment and I was a 'country bumpkin'!  Apples in my kitchen, etc.  Although it just wasn't me, I figured this was what I was 'supposed' to do.  Then I came to the place where I wasn't going to decorate my home with what other people's home looked like but rather something I liked myself!  So after being married for about 2 years, we redecorated in BLACK modern decor with leopard print thrown in.  I really liked it until......

I received comments and jokes about how "dark" it was and I was never sure if they were serious or just making fun of for no harm.  After I had my daughter, I had postpartum depression and figured it must be the dark furniture that everyone had joked about!!  So what did I do??

I went shabby chic!  LOL  I got a pink couch, all pastel colors throughout my house and lots of roses.  My husband actually didn't mind and liked it.

Then we moved and came to a new location, to get made fun of again for our decor!!!  Some said it looked like a little girl's room and others even mocked and said "they would never put their husband in a house filled with pink and roses".  I was sad because I had come to this new place and met with so much disdain on what others THOUGHT of my decor!

I let them get to me and put my shabby chic decor away and chose a brown slipcover and "acceptable" style that surely no one would laugh at. 

Then I had a talk with my new Pastor's wife. I told her how I wasn't sure how I should decorate and how others here in this new town I just moved to where making fun of my decor so I took it all down.  To sum up what she told me:  You shouldn't let OTHERS determine what YOUR home looks like!  I had let what others thought of my decor determine my decor!  It was too late though because I had already took the decor down and spent money on another.  But I learned a valuable lesson from my Pastor's wife and one that I practice today!  She is truly a wise woman!!

So fast forward....we finally had the means of getting new furniture and choosing our OWN style that we have always loved....MOD!  We like black and lots of it, with splashes of bold reds and black/white patterns thrown in the mix.  We didn't have much money but we bought what we could on the little budget that I had!  It isn't my "dream" furniture because I don't have $20,000 to spend on decorating lol....but I love it nevertheless and we only spent roughly $1800, and that furnished the living room and dining room!

Someone had asked for me to share pictures of our decor and that is what brought on this post and then I will also be posting the photos of what we have done so far!  Now, I still like a few other decor styles but haven't tried those yet...maybe one day but I will only redecorate because its what I want! ; )

If you are so concerned about what OTHERS think of you, then you need a reality check!  Listen to my podcast on "What God Thinks" and make sure your mind is in proper prospective! 

A quote from Obama:

A woman shouldn't have to be "PUNISHED with a baby"

My Bible tells me what God thinks about children (see my post about that HERE) and I'm BLESSED to have them!!!!!! CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING!!

Psalm 127:3

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward

Not only are children a heritage of the Lord but they are esteemed highly by God:

Psalm 127:4-5

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them.....

I can't wait to see my pregnancy test read positive for a baby! I long for this, God has designed women for this very PURPOSE and I gladly assume my role as to "bear children" and guide my house! You don't have to ask what God's will is for you as a woman, he has already told us what it is in His WORD:

1 Timothy 5:14

I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

The past few services have been an absolute blessing! Tonight's wasn't an exception! The presence of God filled the House and people's lives got touched and changed! I was thinking about it all tonight, and how BLESSED we are (me and my husband...well the rest of you too hehe) to have a church that actually stands for the FULL Word of God! Not only that, but to have a Pastor (or 2 or 3 or 4....ok you get the idea), who loves us SOOOOO much that he dedicates his LIFE to helping others make it to Heaven!

Just to feel the awesome presence of God in the singing and feeling like you could just float into the air while you are singing "He Set Me Free!" You can't get that a lot of places and I KNOW! I've been to several and I for the life of me, can't understand why someone would go to a church that was dead and couldn't excited even if Jesus had walked in the room! No thanks!

Pastor was preaching on the Bands of Bondage and what "true" bondage really is. Speaking on how the commandments of God are not grievous! (1 John 5:3) It is sin......that is not only grievous but BONDAGE! When I got saved, God broke those "Bands of Bondage" of sin........and gave me liberty in Christ!

I remember the heavy weight of sin and the bondage it was that no matter how hard I tried, I could not quit sinning. But when Jesus took over and I was born again.........what happened?? This verse explains it well:

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God.....

WOW lookee there!! Its in the Bible even, yet some people; churches won't even preach it over the pulpit!! Preach what? That OLD things pass away........then ALL THINGS become new and guess what, all you drinkers and fornicators out there, sorry but ALL THINGS are of GOD!

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

For some people, doing what is in the Bible to them IS grievous because they aren't truly saved! I honestly, did NOT find what I read in God's word to be grievous. God had said it.......I had read it and then I acted upon it. I didn't have to wait for some "feeling"! God said this was the way it was to be and I had no qualms about it!

What about those that "struggle" with God's commandments? There is a struggle (or battle) because they are fighting God's will against their own will! It wouldn't be a struggle if they would just let GO and do what God told them to do!

No one had to tell me about worldly music when I got saved. I remember when I got saved, going back to my room and throwing away all my worldly music! No one told me to throw it away, it wasn't preached about to me that caused it, I simply KNEW what had to go now that I gave my life to God! Other times, it did take the preaching of God's word to prick my heart and then God deal with me and then other changes took place - its called progressive sanctification. However, I didn't find them hard to do once I knew it was God's will!

So what a weekend! Thinking about when God saved me back in December 1999 and all he brought me out of! All fired up for the week ahead and I've got something to SHOUT about! Hallelujah!

I love my Laundry Sorter! I bought it a little while ago and it is one of my favorite things for homekeeping now. Not only are the bags super sturdy, but they are each their own bag that can be lifted by the handles and taken wherever you need them. Also, because each bag is separated on its own, it can hold more weight than some I have seen where all the bags are connected. I was amazed that each bag could fit just as much as one my normal laundry baskets! It is also chrome and not plastic, which makes it more durable and thus would last you a lot longer than some of those cheap plastic sorters.

It also has wheels and is easy to move around the house. However, I keep mine in the laundry room because I find it fits best there and is right across from my washer, so all I have to do is grab a load from a bag and wash. I've shown my husband what each bag is for and he has been using the system and no longer do I have to sort through piles of clothes on laundry day!

Here are the categories for my 4 bags:

• Whites
• Colors
• Delicates
• Hubby's Work Clothes

We keep our towels in the bathroom in their own laundry basket, because I don't want to put wet towels in my cloth laundry bags! Also for kitchen rags and cleaning rags, I have always kept those under the sink in a bucket and when its full, I wash them. I normally do laundry on Monday's, so once a week.

I highly recommend this Laundry Bag Sorter. It is made by Mainstays and sold at Wal-Mart. It was just a little over $30 but has already proven to be money well spent!

The following post contains the reason why I do not allow debate or criticism or any "such like" on my blog. I do this for others to know, understand, and hopefully see the danger in participation in such things as a "hobby" or excessive past time. All is said in love and humility, backed up by the Word of the Almighty God.

I decided it would helpful to define 2 words listed on my sidebar and also in my comments section:

Debate and Criticism

Debate: a contention by words or arguments; fight, contend; argue; opposition

Criticism: the act of criticizing; a critical observation or remark; to find fault or point out the faults of

I do not allow either on my blog. I can not for the life of me understand why someone would read a blog they don't agree with as a whole. That is like me reading an Atheist's blog, expecting never to get upset. Why would I want to go on an Atheist's blog and stir up trouble? (That would be so rude of me to go to someone else's blog to tell them my 2 cents) It's THEIR blog, they can say what they want. Same for mine! I use the Bible, scripture and principles from the Word of the Almighty God and it speaks for itself.

Also let's use some scripture on this account as well. For what it causes on BOTH sides in the commentor and me, is a contributing factor that determines my rules. Not only that but most importantly, I developed this from Biblical scripture and principles set to guide our life. Let's look earnestly at the Word of God.

In its context, debate here is defined as contention, strife and wrangling. It is preceded by murder and followed by deceit. What is the intent of someone who sets about to debate in this manner? Is it to "murder" the other person in their mind through hate and/or use deceit by means of debate? Some food for thought.

Romans 1:29-32

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

It doesn't just stop with this verse, let's continue on. In 1 Timothy 6:3-4, Paul goes on to say that those who teach otherwise:

1 Timothy 6:4

"He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,"

The Bible plainly tells us what comes from "doting" about questions and strifes of words - it brings envy, strife, railings and evil surmisings! Let's define some of these words:

Doting: (in its context) someone that loves to argue

This is what comes from "doting" or for better use of words, what is made from or arises from arguing over questions:

Envy: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage; malice

Strife: conflict, discord, fight; debate/argument; contention, wrangling = to engage in argument; bicker; dispute; controversery

Railings: slander, detraction, speech injurious to another's good name

Evil Surmisings: evil/bad imaginations; to imagine evil


WOW! All those things stem from what? The doting about questions and strifes of words! Is it any wonder, WHY I don't allow such things to happen on this blog?

I'm not done yet lol. God has given me many things tonight to post about this and it is to help others and show them how DANGEROUS it is and why I don't want this going on here. Let's look at more scripture:

Titus 3:9-11

"But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

That is one of the most forewarning scriptures that you can get about this subject in my opinion! Not only should we avoid those things but he goes on to tell us they are UNPROFITABLE and VAIN! But it ain't over yet........the last verse (v.11) is where it gets dangerous! Self condemnation by your own words! Your words will be used against you one day. This isn't the only verse in the Bible that teaches us this truth:

Matthew 12:36-37

"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Our words are not just floating feathers in the wind, never to be brought up again. They are being recorded and we will have to give account for them one day.

For the sake of others, I've deleted some of the comments that were contentious. I'm sure you can find a group of like-minded, disgruntled, arguing and striving over questions folks.......but this ain't the place to do it! I've used the Word of God to show the DANGERS of such things in hopes to help someone understand, for not only themselves, but for them to understand my reasons and my rules and where I got these principles; God's Word; The Bible.

I was reading through Voddie Baucham's blog and came upon one of his post with the title listed above. I found it very insightful and truthful. I also am not against women working when they have to in such cases as he listed:

"....women who find themselves abandoned by sinful, self centered, immature, and/or irresponsible men (both the father of their children and their own fathers), and thus literally have no choice but to work and provide for their children. Nor do I fault women whose husbands have been disabled for one reason or another for having to become breadwinners."

He goes on to contest the thought of the "Career" woman and how our culture today wants to paint the Proverbs 31 Woman as such. You can read the full post here:
http://www.voddiebaucham.org/vbm/Blog/Entries/2008/9/15_Was_the_P31_Woman_a_Career_Gal.html

"The ‘career woman’ argument is an absolute stretch. Especially when we recognize the irrefutable hermeneutical principal that Scripture interprets Scripture. Thus, we cannot use Proverbs 31 to negate Titus 2. Whatever the Proverbs 31 woman teaches us, she cannot teach that which would contradict the direct command for women to be “keepers (or workers) at home.” (Tutus 2:5, 1 Timothy 5:14)"

*Also, I never stated I was not voting Republican. I would never vote Democrat because of what they support: Abortion, Homosexuality, More Government Control, etc. In Politics, you have to choose the "lesser" evil and that leaves McCain. I do not support his pick of a woman for the VP slot. Also, his health is in not so good condition, he is older and I would not like the idea of having a woman ruling our Nation, if McCain was to pass away during office. She also has several children and they need her but she has chosen other things as more important than her God-given role. She has a daughter under her roof who is pregnant out of wedlock. She has a child born not too long ago with Down Syndrome, who will need extra care, time and attention but Mommy will be doing more important things than take care of her son. She seems like a nice lady and I think she can speak very well, but that doesn't make her right, Biblically speaking. However Politics is Politics.......no matter who wins, God is STILL in CONTROL! I will not worry, fear or fret over who gets the office because I'm in God's hands and he will never forsake me and my family or any of His children!

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Is not Christ your treasure?
Is not heaven your inheritance—
and will you murmur?

Have you not much in hand, and more in hope?
Have you not much in possession, but much
more reserved in heaven—
and will you murmur?

Has not God given you. . .
a changed heart,
a renewed nature, and
a sanctified soul—
and will you murmur?

Has He not given you. . .
Himself to satisfy you,
His Son to save you,
His Spirit to lead you,
His grace to adorn you,
His covenant to assure you,
His mercy to pardon you,
His righteousness to clothe you—
and will you murmur?

Has He not made you. . .
a friend,
a son,
a brother,
a bride,
an heir—
and will you murmur?

Has not God often turned. . .
your water into wine,
your brass into silver, and
your silver into gold—
and will you murmur?

When you were dead, did not He quicken you?
When you were lost, did not He seek you?
When you were wounded, did not He heal you?
When you were falling, did not He support you?
When you were down, did not He raise you?
When you were staggering, did not He establish you?
When you were erring, did not He correct you?
When you were tempted, did not He support you? and
When you went in dangers, did not He deliver you?—
and will you murmur?

What! you who are so highly advanced and
exalted above many thousands in the world?
Murmuring suits none so badly as saints.

Thomas Brooks 1608 - 1680


I was reading this tonight and WOW!  May we not murmur or complain but always be thankful for what we have and always know "it could be worse"!  Thank God for all that he has given us!

This is the easy step:

Go shopping!

Again, I do my grocery shopping at Walmart and Winco. I'm armed with my list telling me at which store to get what. Then I complete my shopping for the full month, except for things like bananas and other fresh produce that I will need to buy 2-3 times a month, I reserve about $10 for that.

We buy whatever meat is on sale or running cheap.  Take last month, we found a roast and then it was sliced and that one roast lasted us 5 meals because I wrapped 4 slices and put them in the freezer.  Each package was a meal along with potatoes or rice and veggies.  I also like getting thin boneless pork chops and a 5 pound package of ground turkey.  We eat meat 1-2 times a week but most of are diet is based around beans, fish, eggs and other sources of protein.

For cheese, I get slabs of it, which is the cheapest way to get it that I have seen.  I usually buy one slab of cheddar and one slab of mozzarella for pizzas for the month.  They last us the whole month!

Now that you have your Grocery List, you will want to shop at the store with the best prices for the items you need to buy. That brings us to the next step:

Make a price book

I shop at 2 stores for my monthly grocery shopping; Walmart and Winco. I might go to another, if there is an unbelievable deal or if I'm having a craving or have extra money for a treat.

I make a list of different foods and items and go through Walmart and then Winco and looking at the unit and/or ounce price, I write down the cheapest one. Then when I get home I compare and see which store has which item for the cheapest. Here is an example: I know that honey is cheaper at Walmart by comparing the price per ounce with Winco's cheapest honey. Then Winco has the cheapest peanut butter.

You should only have to do this once and then on each monthly visit to do your shopping, note any changes (if you have time) in the prices. Then every 3 months, you should do a complete price book check and see if there are changes. You would be surprised! I've seen Walmart change things from one month to the next, sometimes by a dollar or more.

I have had about ENOUGH of the disrespect and discourtesy of others! I was raised in the South, a part of the country that abounds with hospitality and courteous folk. It seems to me that as each year goes by, people are becoming more and more rude and ill-mannered toward each other.

Just what is courtesy? Let's define it using Webster's:

• Courtesy/Courteous - marked by respect for and consideration of others

Now lets look at the words respect and consideration:

• Respect - regard, consideration, attention to
• Consideration - thoughtful, regard
  

Hebrews 10:24

"And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"


Here is a list of things that are very rude, disrespectful and definitely not courteous:

1. Talking to someone on the phone, and they abrubtly say hold on and click over to another line. This is called, not call waiting, but call RUDE! That is like saying "Oh, there is someone I would rather talk to on the other line than you." Sometimes people don't even click back over and you are waiting, waiting, waiting........then you realize they are not ever clicking back. This is very disrespectful. Is there an exception? Yes, sometimes you are expecting a very important call. It is well mannered to let the other person know this and please don't leave them hanging on the other line!
2. Not keeping your word. Some people's "word" is about as good as a boat with a hole in it lol. It just isn't reliable, you can't count on them. You say you will be there at such and such a time but don't show and don't call to notify that you are not coming or that you are late, etc. If you call to say you can't make it or call that you are running late, that is having a courtesy towards the other person. However, if you don't call or even let that person know why you didn't show and NEVER apologize that is just plain RUDE! We all have things that come up in life and sometimes we have to cancel things, but make sure it is an honest reason.
3. Not holding the door for the person behind you. That is the ultimate of rude, I mean come on! How hard is it, to hold the door till the person behind you gets it?
4. Flaunting and exposing your body when families are nearby. Of course Christians don't have to worry about this! I'm talking about women that want everyone and anyone to see their "goods". Women that don't hold anything sacred and private anymore but just let it all out. It is so disrespectful to others when you see this at the mall or other family areas. My child doesn't need to see your breasts and your belly button! Actually my daughter, would say to me if she saw this: "Mommy, why does that lady not have all her clothes on?" She says that about Barbie dolls at Walmart and those despicable Bratz dolls! She KNOWS what is modest already at age 4!
5. One-sided friendships, where a person is selfish and doesn't return the efforts: this is where you are the one who calls a friend, goes by their house to see them, make efforts to show your friendliness but receive nothing in return. Someone that will not return your efforts, is not worth it in my opinion. I learned early on that if you spend your time with these type of people where everything is all about them and they never make efforts to call you or see how you are, they are just full of them selves and you really don't matter lol. I worked in collections years ago and when I would leave messages on people's phones for the hundredth time it seemed, I would say "Please give us the common courtesy of a return call." Till this day, that has stuck with me! Like my 2nd Pastor taught us, if someone doesn't want to talk to you, even after your attempts, don't pursue them! They aren't worth your time! ; ) A phrase he used a lot was "you don't want to talk to me, I don't want to talk to you!" I still laugh when I think about that because I can hear him in my mind saying it lol.
6. Cliques! I honestly can't believe that there are even cliques in the church but it happens even in God's house! Someone mentioned something about the same ole' people always grouped together at fellowship's and the same ole' ones making trouble, etc. Whenever I see someone new, I try and talk to them and be their friend. I remember what it was like to be new in WA and how for months, no one really would be-friend me and my husband until one couple finally invited us over. I still remember who it was and to this day we are still good friends with this Rev and his wife. We then started inviting people over in mass numbers lol. Seems like every week (sometimes twice a week) we had people over for fellowship. Show yourself friendly! If you find yourself never reaching out to new people at your church, where you live, etc then make sure you aren't being a respector of persons and staying in your "comfort" zone. Step out and be friendly and get to know people!! Become a people person and don't succumb to a clique! Heaven will not be divided into the black clique and the white clique, etc. So you might as well prepare here and show yourself friendly.
7. When someone is in need or sick you offer no help. How would you feel if you were sick and in need, and no one cared? Whenever someone mentions a sickness or a need, I always ask "is there anything I can do?" Sometimes I just go ahead and do something if God lays it on my heart. But never putting out a hand to help is selfish. How many people are always grabbing hands of help but never themselves putting one out? There will come a day if you live long enough, that you will need someone. My Pastor's wife recently shared with me that what you do for others always comes back!
   
8. Doing all the talking and never letting the other person get in a word edgewise. It is one thing to talk to start a conversation or even keep one going. But when one person keeps talking and talking and never pauses to let you say something.......that isn't very courteous is it? I mean how many times have you avoided someone just because you know they will go on and on and you won't get in a word? I try and pause when I talk and let the other person say something. If they don't, I then continue on. You can usually tell when someone wants to say something, it is then you should pause and let them talk! Or else you may find that no one wants to be around you. Let's face it, people like to talk about themselves and in dealing with people, if you find they are shy, just start asking them questions about themselves and you will get them talking! Courtesy is a two-way street, practice what my daughter does with her friends and say "its your turn now". =0
9. You are trying to merge and no one will let you in. Doesn't it feel good when you let someone in that is merging or turning onto the street you are on? Most of the time they wave and mouth a "thank you" and you get a warm fuzzy feeling inside lol. Practice doing this and it will come back to you! When you need to get out in traffic, all of sudden you will find it easier. I can't tell you how many times this reaping and sowing law has come to life for me!
10. Not bearing other people's burdens. The Bible instructs us in Galatians 6:2, "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Why are there so many Cain's today? Those that sarcastically say "Am I my Brother's Keeper?" Well guess what....you are! We are commanded in God's word to edify one another; lift one another up; restore one another and on and on. We have a duty to others! You can't just sit in your own BUBBLE and have no care for others, that is selfishness. So bear your brother or sister's burdens! Rejoice when they rejoice, weap when they weap. What would Jesus do? Could you really see Jesus sitting on his couch in his own little bubble and never caring for others? NO! So don't say you are Christ-like, if you do the opposite he has taught us.

Let's all practice some common courtesy this week! Hold that door open, let that car get in front of you, smile at someone at the store and call up those you care about. Not only are others watching your life, God is too!

You have your meal list for 30 days, now you are going to do Step #6:

Make a grocery list

Since you have planned your meals around your inventories, it will be easy to make your grocery list.  You know what you don't have on hand and need to buy.  Take out a piece of paper and make your list.  I like to have sections on my list such as:

Freezer/cold items
Canned items like tomato sauce
Produce

You get the idea!  When you go to the grocery store you aren't running back and forth because you have an organized list.  Then once you come to a specific section of the grocery store, you don't have to scan your entire list to see what you need from that aisle, it is already grouped together!

• Cookies
• Pies
• Coffee cakes
• Brownies
• Cakes
• Jello

• Split Pea Soup, bread or sandwiches
• Pizza
• Navy Bean Soup, bread or sandwiches
• Spaghetti, cheese bread
• Beans, rice and salsa
• Taco Casserole
• Chili and baked potatoes
• Salmon chowder, corn on the cob and/or bread
• Broccoli and rice casserole (tuna usually)
• Meat, veggies, rice or potato

• Popcorn, cheese or almonds
• Nachos or just chips and salsa
• PB on bread, milk
• Fruit, hard-boiled egg
• Yogurt, almonds
• Shakes
• Grapes, cheese
• Salad, almonds or cheese
• Granola bars
• Hummus, veggies

If you are using the standard large size soap bar, then this recipe will work fine. However if you use smaller soaps or a specialty one, you may have to add more or less water depending on the consistency you get when it is cooled. One bar of soap makes us around 10 cups of liquid soap and that only costs 30 cents!

• 1 bar soap
• 10 cups water
• Shredder
• Pan
• Stirring spoon

Pour your water into the pan on the stove and turn to heat to medium high. While the water is heating, shred your bar of soap (you should get a cup of shredded soap).  Then add your soap to the water and heat till all the soap is dissolved, stirring occasionally. (Don't allow it to boil)

Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into storage container or individual hand pumps. Once cool and set, it should be a thin gel, like the store-bought, if not you have used too much water and/or not enough soap. It will clean your hands nevertheless, even if you made it too runny......keep trying and you will get it right eventually.

** You can also make face soap using this recipe by using a facial soap bar (Dove, Olay, etc). You could also add essential oils for a scented version or even add some moisturizers if you want.

• PB and Jelly or PB and banana sandwich
• Tuna sandwich, carrots
• Egg Salad sandwich
• Tuna cakes, veggies
• Leftovers
• Bean burritos
• PB on toast, milk
• Bev's Healthier Nachos
• Soup, crackers
• Baked potato, toppings

• Homemade WW pancakes, syrup, eggs, berries
• Homemade WW bagels, cream cheese, tomato
• Scrambled eggs, veggies, toast
• Scone, homemade jam, cheese or egg
• Oatmeal or Oat Bran, almonds or flaxseed, berries
• Shakes
• French Toast, syrup, berries

You have prayed, with a stocked pantry, have all your inventories and you have created a calendar for your month of meals.  Now you will:

Make lists of meals

Take some paper and label with each meal of the day.  I use one side of the paper per each meal of the day: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks and Desserts.  Now that you have it labeled you will start with Breakfast.  It is here you will make a list of the choices you will have for Breakfast.  Continue on with each meal, listing choices for each.

I scour recipes online, in books and use ideas I have up in my noggin for things that would be "frugal" to make.  In the next few posts, I will be listing my meal choices for each section, so you can get a better idea of what we eat and have to choose from each day.

You prayed, have a stocked pantry and also did your pantry/fridge/freezer inventories and you know what you have in your house!  It's on paper!  So the next step is to start the actual meal planning.  You will:

Make a calendar for your meals

You can print out monthly calendars online for free but why waste printer ink when doing it with an ink pen is much cheaper! :)  I take paper and simply do a calendar that contains the 2nd Tuesday of the month till the next 2nd Tuesday of the month.  Usually it is about 30 days or around there. 

This will give you a layout (which you will in later steps put meals) and it will also help you know how many meals you need for the month.

This step is just making the calendar.......I told you all I was taking this very slow so everyone understands how I do this.

You've prayed, you have a pantry with basics stocked and now its time for Step #3:

Make Inventories

I make inventories of my pantry, freezer and refrigerator EVERY time I start my monthly meal planning.  This gives you a hard copy of what you have in your kitchen so you don't have to run to the cupboard or the freezer searching for an item.  It will also help you realize things that you need to use up within a week or within the month.  Which is the reason why I also make a separate list for things that "need to be used up" and keep it in my meal planning section of my homemaker's journal.

You can do what I do and just use a blank piece of notebook paper to write down your inventories.