In all honesty, I'm a true procrastinator at heart. I work much better, much more efficiently when I have a clear and looming deadline. I'm the type of person that finds setting a timer for thirty minutes helps me to stay more focused on tasks and chores because I push myself to work hard to get as much done as I can in that short period of time. It's the way God wired me, I suppose. Sometimes it drives Brad a little crazy, but I always get things done and get them done well. And the looming deadline invigorates me a bit and pushes me to do my best.
However, this procrastination also carries over into the kitchen and meal-making. I would get an "F" in meal-planning if I was graded. Oh gosh. And this is the one area where I find my procrastinating spirit to lead to a bit of stress. All I can say is thank goodness for the auto defrost option on my microwave!
So one of my goals this coming fall (and coming school year) is to start meal-planning again. I have always enjoyed the mental freedom that has come from having a plan when it comes to meals. I suppose I just haven't disciplined myself enough to actually make it a habit. However, it's such a WONDERFUL feeling at 4:00 p.m. on a weekday to know that dinner is already planned and probably already started or even in the crock pot almost ready to be eaten.
My kids, at ages 13 and 10, love to cook and bake. It's something that they've always seen me do, and I've let them have reigns in the kitchen since an early age. In my mind, it's one of the most important life skills I can pass on to my kids ~ the skill of feeding oneself. And not only feeding oneself, but feeding oneself good, wholesome, home-cooked meals.
My problem as a kitchen procrastinator, though, is that when I've waited until the last possible minute to start a dinner that I'm not even sure what it's going to be, I don't have the patience for the kids in the kitchen with me. I want to get in there, have all the room to move around, and crank out whatever I'm making. And sometimes I don't even know what I'm making until it hits the kitchen table and is done.
But, I'm totally robbing my kids and myself of some special, very productive time together as well as some really awesome learning experiences approaching meal-time this way. And it's all because I'm too lazy to do a little planning ahead of time.
This past Saturday, Ian and I went to the garden together and picked a bunch of veggies to use to make dinner. The kids and I then husked the corn together and spent an hour chopping, mixing, sauteing, and prepping our dinner. When we pulled the stuffed green peppers out of the oven two hours later, there was a great satisfaction felt around the table that night. We had worked together from start to finish. And on top of that, most of the food was from our garden.
I was reflecting on this later that evening. We had so much fun together. The kids kept saying how much they loved cooking with me and how they want to do it more often. And, I really do swear, that food tasted so much better knowing that we made it together.
So this is one of my goals this new school year. I'm going to work on disciplining myself to meal-plan again, and I'm going to work more group cooking sessions into our schedule. Not only does this enable some really great quality time with my kids, but it's also equipping them for their future when they leave home.
I love home.
What does home mean to me? What image do I conjure up in my mind when I think of home?
I
imagine a cozy, quaint place that is warm, beautiful but simple. A
place where love flows freely. A place where words of encouragement are
spoken and life is breathed into those who enter.
I
imagine a place where the dwellers feel free to be themselves. Guards
can be dropped. Feet can be kicked back. Weary bodies can toss
themselves onto the sofa and cozy up under a well-worn quilt.
A
place where laughter is real. Where learning happens all of the time.
Where good thoughts are shared and discussed. Where life is lived fully
and where joy prevails.
This is what I strive for, this is
what I want for our home. And me, as a wife and mother, well, I have
such an awesome opportunity to influence the atmosphere of our home.
This is my office. This is my place of work. This is my opportunity to
shine as I foster an environment that encourages growth physically,
mentally, and spiritually for my family and all who visit.
What an awesome privilege that is!
So
instead of complaining about the never-ending laundry, I need to thank
God for the healthy bodies that wear all of that clothing.
Instead
of dreading washing the dishes again, I need to praise God for the food
He has so graciously and extravagantly provided. The food that fills
those plates three times a day, that fills our bellies full.
And
the messes that scatter so easily around the house? Oh those can test
me. But those little messes were made by the ones that are dearest to my
heart. I want to be thankful that I have these beautiful children who
are healthy enough to be up and making messes. And I need to be thankful
that I have the opportunity to teach my children to be responsible,
clean-up after themselves, and contribute to our home's well-being.
I
enjoy home. I enjoy keeping my home. I used to think that it was sinful
to want a beautiful home (note that I do not mean large, filled with
extravagant things, or magazine-worthy) for my family. But I now realize
that God put that creative desire within me, that love for beauty, the
attention to the aesthetics. God made me that way. And, of course, I
could use those desires in sinful ways, but I can also choose to
embrace them and make my home a dwelling that quenches the thirst of dry
souls, that replenishes the spiritual tanks of those who enter, that
inspires others to seek the beautiful and simple things of God.
I
am so thankful that God has enabled me to be a keeper of my home. I am
thankful that He has shown me the importance of making our home a
shelter to my family and others.
Lord, open my eyes up
to the great privilege You have blessed me with to be a keeper of our
home. Thank you for our home. Thank you for those that fill it. May it
be used for Your glory, and may all who enter feel surrounded by Your
love and grace.
Photos. Oh the photos! The hundreds of photos that fill my camera documenting all of the fun our little family had this past holiday weekend.
Heading up north. Hiking trails. Walking the creek. Picnicking in the perfect shady spot beside the creek. Tenting out in the backyard. Every meal cooked over the open campfire (So extremely yummy.) Breakfast with friends visiting from Wisconsin. Admiring our neighbor's big firework display from the comfort of our own front yard.
It was one of those lovely, wonderful, please-don't-end-too-soon weekends.
And I learned a couple of things this weekend as well...
One ~ The forest of Western PA sounds like a tropical rain forest in the middle of the night. I didn't know so many birds were awake all night long. Sleep came a bit hard that night, but the upside of that was being awake to listen to a beautiful bird symphony. And it surprised me how tropical the whole symphony sounded. It was very enjoyable, snuggled up under several down blankets as the air had a bit of a nip to it that night.
Two ~ Food tastes the best over an open fire. Really truly. Brad rigged a grate and fire ring together at the last minute so we could cook more than just some measly hot dogs and s'mores over the fire. (I love my man's handiness.) And we took advantage of that! Marinated chicken breasts and baked potatoes for dinner. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. And, of course, we did the fun, easy treat of hot dogs and s'mores. Open-fire cooking is my new favorite way to cook! I was so thankful for the few pieces of cast iron I own, and this weekend inspired me to add some new pieces to my little collection.
Three ~ Days (and nights) spent outdoors translate into a sinkful and counterful of dirty dishes. Well, in our case, anyway. We cooked out, but I still had made side dishes and such. And into the sink those dirty dishes went. I could have stayed inside and spent the hour washing and drying and putting away, but think of all of the fun I would have missed. So I left them. I gave myself permission to leave the dirty dishes for the sake of being able to savor every single moment with my husband and children.
Four ~ Tenting in the backyard has to be one of the most convenient ways to camp. I can't even tell you how many trips I made from our little "campsite" back to the house to grab this or that. Yep, I think I'll stick to tenting in the backyard.
And as a little side note, I read this article over the weekend, and now the wheels of my mind are working.
