Christmas Eve, I received a super surprise gift from my in-laws-- a Kindle Fire. It was the only thing I could think of I REALLY wanted for Christmas, but it was one of those gifts you ask for on your list, but never really expect to get it. This spiraled into an all out frenzy on reading. The last time I read a book was 2008 when I had the flu, and for whatever reason, thought reading Twilight would be a good idea. It's been my aspiration to be the best wife and momma I can be. Christmas Day, when all the presents were unwrapped, and everyone was on pins and needles waiting for Mom's smorgasbord to unfold from the oven, I purchased this book:
I heart the author a real whole lot. She is a lot like me.... check out this from the first pages. She is referencing the "ideal" woman the bible describes in Proverbs 31.
Like her, I had some things to think about. I finished the book yesterday. While it didn't really give me any closure, I related to the author real well. It is just about impossible in today's world to be the epitome of a "perfect" mother and wife, ALL THE TIME. Homegirl, Sara Horn was keepin' it real. She tried, she wasn't perfect, she may not have been even great at times, but what she did do, was give it her all and be the best she could be for her family. I got another book today, which was suggested to me after I read that one (thanks Amazon).
It was a kick butt $4.99 and I am stoked about reading it. There is a little devotional, followed by a Martha and a Mary challenge. It is based off of Lazarus's sisters Mary and Martha. In Luke, it tells of the two:
"She [Martha] had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.' And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her' " (Luke 10:39-42
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Martha was OCD and was worried about making the house perfect and being the super star hostess with the most-ess. Mary was a social girl, like myself. She sat and visited (with coffee in hand? Starbucks, maybe?) with Jesus. I consider myself a Mary kind of girl. I heart visiting with people. I am a talker. My dad gave me the nickname "Mouth of the South" when I was little, because I never, ever shut up. It's still true today. (Thanks ADHD.) This book is 31 days of challenges to clean up your life, your home, your thoughts, your spirit. I can't wait. Yesterday was day 1. Day one reads like this: (Thanks to the author's website for sharing)
Day 1 – Why Clean?
I have a question for you: Why do you want a clean home? That may sound like a silly question, but I think it’s important that YOU discover for yourself why you want a clean home, and I’m not just talking about the need to keep the roaches away. If you do not own your reasons, you will be unmotivated and quite frankly, bored with the whole idea of persevering in cleaning. However, if you can name it, you can claim it; you can and will be much more motivated to keep going towards your goal. I believe that if you can generate a list of the “whys” then you will be able to look on them and remind yourself day in and day out why you are spending time on the “mundane” things that never seem to stay accomplished. YOU need to have purpose in what you’re doing, you need vision, or you will continue to stay in a rut. Once you figure the “why” key out, you will already be one step ahead of yourself.
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Mary Challenge: Identify specific reasons you want to make your home a haven, and then complete a mission statement based on those reasons.
Write down on a piece of paper exactly why you want a clean home. Be specific. Maybe your mission will be in the form of a paragraph, a poem, or a list. Consider adding a verse or a quote that motivates you. When you are finished, it should take you no longer than a minute to read over your “mission statement.” Now dress it up! Make it pretty, put it in a frame, just be creative and have fun! Put it somewhere where you can see it every day.
Martha Challenge: Look over all of the Martha challenges in this book and make a list of any supplies you need to get – organizing supplies, cleaning supplies, etc.
The Mary answer was simple. I chose to rep it in a single picture.
For my picture perfect family.
So today, it was on like Donkey Kong. After applying some awesome nail polish strippy things last night, when I got home from church, I donned one of my prized scarfs I got from my Nanny's things (It was one of the scarves she wore when she had breast cancer, if that doesn't say power I don't know what does. She was also the Queen Bee of cleaning, my hero, my everything...) and put on my game face.
Not serious enough? Well, my bushes didn't think I was either...
Today it was on. I decided I would make some homemade quiche and French onion soup. Today's Mary challenge was to do something to show your family love. What better way than with food? The recipe is from Smitten Kitchen (Thanks Mama-O), and I feel was super duper easy. Here is the soup... told in pictures. (You can click the link to the recipe.)
They sit and get happy for 15 minutes....
Then the caramelizing magic begins.... for an hour.
This quite doesn't do it justice. This soup was the most insanely delicious thing I have ever cooked. Ever.
Quiche, you say? How did I do that? Well.... it was a little like this:
Take 1 sleeve of wheat Ritz ('cause we roll with the whole wheat 'round here...), place them in a freezer bag, give your toddler a rolling pin and teach him to hit things... Ok, just the bag.
Ready?
SMACK!!!!!
Then mix with a stick of melted butter... yum. I put in some Zach's Garlic Pepper too... because I can.
Then press into muffin tins, and bake at 350 until you feel good about it.
Asparagus mustachio? Mmmmmmm hmmm..
This is 8 eggs, some milk, some heavy cream... swiss and provolone cheese, sliced turkey meat, asparagus, spinach, S & P. Bake until happy at 350...
How cute is that?
Boo boo thought it was a nummy-num supper-bite.
Oh, and today's Martha challenge was to clean out the fridge. Which the hubby and I coincidentally did yesterday! (With some help...)
...and that is only just day 1 (ok, and 2). I'm prayfully staying tuned for the other 29 days. We'll keep ya posted.
