First Day of School

First Day back to school. They went to bed on time, got up early without complaint. Adjusted well to making lunches and eating breakfast at home- typically we get free lunch and breakfast at school, I am hoping we can get that sorted out. Then they indulged me for a picture or two before they headed off to load the bus. One a junior in high school, the other two are 8th graders this year. My daughter doesn't even know her schedule yet since we had to make adjustments last week. I am praying she gets great teachers. I have a menu made for dinner this week. I have beds made, the house fairly clean and all this started at 5 am. Now I am off to do my devotion with a house in order, get some exercise time in and then work on a quilt for a child who's father passed away this year, he was in the military, had cancer and was only 40 years old. Please pray for this family, for the wife who has lost her spouse way to early, for the children who lost their dad and will go through life missing so much, for the parents who lost their son and for me as I try to piece some shirts together and create a quilt of memories for all of them. Have a wonderful Monday.

Thoughts on Weekly and Monthly Planning

The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established. —Proverbs 16:1-3

New Beginnings for 2012 mean planning more. I also want to be a little "over" organized. This is an example. We have been freezing our salsa for a year now, it works out great. We have learned an important organization lesson besides putting the date on it, which we do- to tag it as great, decent, okay. That way I know to use certain batches for beans, or for regular eating. Good lesson to learn. 

Another that we started this week is sorting out the meat as we buy it by not only the purchase date but the meal it is intended for and the date of it. That is where planning a little in advance really helps out. I love the idea of planning a month in advance because we can watch the sales a little more.

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

I admit that last week the menu got used every night, we did swap meals twice, once out of time for people being home to eat it and the other due being busy. We did still eat every meal of the week though. 

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

—Proverbs 21:5

I love my new planning menus. They have a menu on one side and a grocery list on the other. I have learned I can write the two or three items I need for that night right next to it. This week I also added in the menu box if we had the particular meat, which freezer it was in etc. I even was able to list that we had frozen shredded cheese to the menu box, so that I would not purchase more this month. 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

—Proverbs 19:21

I am praying as we continue to follow some biblical principles and grow more in our organizational methods that we will live a little easier and become more efficient with our finances.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:11