My Daily Cleaning Routine

     I will start off by saying I am still working on my consistency on this. Sometimes life just gets a little off track.
Cleaning Routine:
* Make our bed, unless it is laundry day.
* Breakfast dishes
* Wipe off the table and counters
* Start a load of laundry or have the kids depending on the day. We each have a set laundry day.
* I vacuum every other day
* I dust on vacuum days
* I wash windows once a week
*Lunch dishes
* Trash as needed
* Sweep the floor once a day unless needed more.
* I mop a couple times a week
* Dinner dishes
* I try and do a pick up before heading to bed.
* I also do bathrooms a couple times a week. But we wipe things down everyday.
* I clean out the fridge once a week
* Also deep clean the kitchen, dinning room once a week.
* I do a general pick up in our bedroom as needed.

The kids are responsible for cleaning their rooms, doing their laundry, and they help with dishes and trash.  Also they take turns mowing the lawn and helping clean up the yard.  We live on a very busy street and people toss trash from their cars all the time into our yard and the neighbors yards.

The main thing is that you find a schedule and routine that works for you.  To work at being constant and finding what works.

Summer Time Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1lb Asparagus

1 package pearl size mozzorella

1 package grape or cherry tomatoes

1 box radiator pasta or a small shaped pasta

10-12 Basil Leaves

1/4 cup Olive oil, Plus some for drizling

1/4 cup balsamic vinager

Salt and pepper ( both black and white pepper) to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.  Wash the Asparagus, break off the "woody" end, and cut into small bite size pieces.  Drizzle with Olive oil and lightly season with salt and pepper.  Bake for 10 min.

2. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

3. Wash the tomatoes and cut in half. place the tomatoes, basil and mozzarella in a large mixing bowl.

4. Put the balsamic vinegar in a small sauce pan and reduce by half.

5.  Let the pasta, vinegar, and asparagus cool.

6. Place all ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix together.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Proverbs 31 Wife Part 12: Outward Beauty Vs. Inward Beauty

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.  Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
-Proverbs 31:29-31

     I think this verse is telling us that we might have outward beauty, but God looks at our inward beauty.  The most beautiful women I know have God's beauty shining through them.  How do they find such beauty?  First by salvation through Christ.  Then getting to know God on a deep level.  How do you do this?  By reading the word daily, laying down your life daily, by picking up your cross daily and following Him daily.

I do fell that we need to take care of ourselves, by eating right, getting some kind of exercise in, and over all general care of our bodies and mind.  I think it is OK to make ourselves look good for our husbands. 

     So the take away from this blog series is, to be the best wife you can be is to follow the Lord and to be who God wants you to be. 

I hope you all enjoyed this series.

Until Next Time,
Pitters

Proverb 31 Wife Part 11: How are We at Home with Our Families

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
- Proverb 31:28

     Looking at this verse I feel God is telling me that it does not matter how "holy" I am to everyone outside of my home.  Our true character comes out at home, with our husband and children.   We need to show all the characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit in our home.  Not just in public!

But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23

     We don't get to pick and choose the ones we like and only show them.  We are called to show all of them to everyone.  Even when we think our kids or husbands don't "deserve" it.  1 Corinthians tells us what love is.

Love is patient, love is kind, it is not envious.  Love does not brag, it is not puffed up.
- 1 Corinthians 13:4

     I know I have days when a fall so short of this.  I have times when I need to humble myself to my husband or kids and ask for forgiveness.  We have a Father in Heaven that will forgive us when we don't remember what he asks of us.  I think the point is to know when you are following God lead and when you have stepped off the path.  Stepping off the path of showing our family the love that God asks us to.