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I used to struggle constantly with what to have for dinner. I learned about freezer cooking (also called Once a Month Cooking or OAMC, Investment Cooking, Make-Ahead Cooking) and decided I wanted to learn all about it. After researching I tried the Freezer Cooking Manual from 30 Day Gourmet and quickly became a fan of freezer cooking! I started 30 day cooking alone, then joined friends who were also using this method, and finally started to teach new people all about freezer cooking.
Since I started my Homemaking911 ministry in July 2007 I have 100s of women freezer cooking. Many women wanted to have a manual to help them when they were on their own at home. Instead of making a whole new resource, I am now offering the updated version of my favoite freezer cooking book through my website. This works out great because I do not have to do all that work (writing a book!) and you can purchase it through me and save on shipping! It’s a great deal for all of us. Plus, I get to help support the site that helped give me knowledge and confidence to get a meal on the table with ease.
Here are some photos of my freezer cooking day with my friend Kathy Enix. Two of my four children were also helping me that day, Christina (age 17, seen stirring the Mexi-Chicken) and Anne Mary (age 7, washing potatoes). The others were off playing together.
Enjoy the pictures!
Showing posts with label Homemaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Homemaking. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Decluttering Challenge Day
We woke up one Saturday morning with nothing on the calendar, so decided to have a de-cluttering day. I looked everywhere and knew there were a lot of things that were ready to go bless another family. At 8:30 we made sure everyone was up and dressed, and as they ate breakfast, I told them the plan. “Today is de-cuttering day! Today we are going to all work together to get rid of the things we do not need.” Then I outlined the rules for them, and with great excitement and enthusiasm, I put the incentives on our white board.
If (as a family) we get rid of 100 items, we would get dessert with lunch.
If we gave away 200 items, we could go out for icecream one night this week.
If we gave away 300 items, the family could go out to eat for dinner.
If we gave away 400 items, we could have dinner out, with dessert!
Trash did not count in the numbers. Every item had to go through the dining room for mom to make sure it was suitable to give away. Every item was to be tallied on a note pad kept in the dining room. Everyone got straight to work. My oldest daughter emptied her truck and turned down the seats to hold the loot. My middle daughter got the trash bags and boxes ready. My youngest daugther got the laundry baskets to use to transport stuff from the rooms to the dining room.
It did not take long for the excitement to build as the kids discussed the “poor children” who would love to get their toys that they no longer cherished but were still in terrific shape. They joyfully brought out some little dolls that were always underfoot, but rarely appreciated. They brought out clothes that were outgrown, and made room in their drawers for the things they needed in there. Around luncthtime the truck was FULL. Our item count was very close to 300. Over lunch the kids discussed the progress so far and were excitedly planning when we would go out to icecream. They the question came up about ”What if we hit 500 items?” That got the excitement growing again and after lunch everyone got back oin gear. We were all getting pretty tired by then, but kept saying: look for one more thing, keep going! Almost to 400! Soon, we were all in the garage and the number neared 500. Anne Mary declared that 500 items should be a family movie night with POPCORN! “YES!” everyone shouted! The excitement built as the 499th item was in the box. Then, they started talking about donating their winter coats, shoes, umbrellas, and one another’s clothes.
I am ashamed to say we could probably do this over and over again and still have too much stuff, but I was excited to see the family pull together with a common goal and a lot of fun. We know others will be blessed by what we gave away. The children do take care of their things and they are usually in very good shape when they have outgrown them. Think about how your family could be a blessing to others today. Perhaps you could set a goal for each person to give away five things, or ten things. Make it a fun challenge and celebrate each act of generosity. Your family will be blessed!
O Lord, help us to be content, Whatever we possess; Protect us from the foolish lie That “more” brings happiness. - David Sper
If (as a family) we get rid of 100 items, we would get dessert with lunch.
If we gave away 200 items, we could go out for icecream one night this week.
If we gave away 300 items, the family could go out to eat for dinner.
If we gave away 400 items, we could have dinner out, with dessert!
Trash did not count in the numbers. Every item had to go through the dining room for mom to make sure it was suitable to give away. Every item was to be tallied on a note pad kept in the dining room. Everyone got straight to work. My oldest daughter emptied her truck and turned down the seats to hold the loot. My middle daughter got the trash bags and boxes ready. My youngest daugther got the laundry baskets to use to transport stuff from the rooms to the dining room.
It did not take long for the excitement to build as the kids discussed the “poor children” who would love to get their toys that they no longer cherished but were still in terrific shape. They joyfully brought out some little dolls that were always underfoot, but rarely appreciated. They brought out clothes that were outgrown, and made room in their drawers for the things they needed in there. Around luncthtime the truck was FULL. Our item count was very close to 300. Over lunch the kids discussed the progress so far and were excitedly planning when we would go out to icecream. They the question came up about ”What if we hit 500 items?” That got the excitement growing again and after lunch everyone got back oin gear. We were all getting pretty tired by then, but kept saying: look for one more thing, keep going! Almost to 400! Soon, we were all in the garage and the number neared 500. Anne Mary declared that 500 items should be a family movie night with POPCORN! “YES!” everyone shouted! The excitement built as the 499th item was in the box. Then, they started talking about donating their winter coats, shoes, umbrellas, and one another’s clothes.
I am ashamed to say we could probably do this over and over again and still have too much stuff, but I was excited to see the family pull together with a common goal and a lot of fun. We know others will be blessed by what we gave away. The children do take care of their things and they are usually in very good shape when they have outgrown them. Think about how your family could be a blessing to others today. Perhaps you could set a goal for each person to give away five things, or ten things. Make it a fun challenge and celebrate each act of generosity. Your family will be blessed!
O Lord, help us to be content, Whatever we possess; Protect us from the foolish lie That “more” brings happiness. - David Sper
Domestic Engineer
Homemaker. That is my title. It seems like such a humble word when I fill it out on a medical form or legal paperwork. Or what about this one: Domestic Engineer. With a job title like that, I could presumably demand a salary making $30,000-$500,000 per year depending upon whose calculations you believe. But when it comes to the end of the day, no one is paying me a salary, and my financial net worth has suffered as a result of my decision to stay home and raise my children. Fortunately, we do not have to make of judgment of ourselves based on the standards of net worth. Our value is determined by God.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27
We have been taught that to have real worth we must be productive, efficient, better, quicker, faster, and perfect. But what we really crave is order, peace and beauty. This yearning is often comingled with feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and frustration. We do not know how to meet the world’s standards and satisfy our inner cravings as well. Precious homemaker, when you desire order, peace and beauty, you are experiencing the manifestation of God’s image upon your heart.
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The … first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The …second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The …third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. -Genesis 2:8-14
A Bible teacher at my local church, Kristen Sauder, helped me see this verse in a whole new light! Do you see what God has done? God is the original homemaker. When you are working in your home and using logic and care to make sure the needs of your family are met, you are emulating God, the creator!
The Garden of Eden was also a place of beauty. He sculpted trees that were beautiful and practical. It is no wonder we love to decorate – that was the first thing God did! Can you imagine God walking along the garden and determining the perfect placement for each tree, each flower, and its water source?
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.- Genesis 2:15
Once God planned the ultimate garden, he did not send everyone away to gaze upon it from afar. He placed his family right in the middle of it and gave them responsibility for its care. If you homeschool your children, they are right in the middle of your home all day long! When you are delegating and teaching your children how to care for themselves and their property, you are walking in the footsteps of Our Father.
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. -Genesis 2:18, 21-22
What a creative God! He saw a problem. He took the resources available and made something pretty spectacular out of it. He took a rib and made a woman! My husband jokes that he can look through the freezer and pantry and think, “There is nothing for dinner.” I can go into the same kitchen and use the same ingredients make a big, tasty meal to feed a hungry family. That is God’s image stamped upon my heart. I can take what I have and make something better out of it. You can, too.
These skills you are honing and growing as a homemaker all serve to help you develop yourself more fully into the woman that God has made you to be. It really does not matter what title we give our humble job of homemaking. It won’t matter if you call yourself a Domestic Engineer and estimate a six-digit salary. What matters is that you were created deliberately and carefully by the God of the universe and he loves you. He loves the family resemblance. Praise Him for it, and seek ways to continue growing in His likeness!
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. – Genesis 1:27
We have been taught that to have real worth we must be productive, efficient, better, quicker, faster, and perfect. But what we really crave is order, peace and beauty. This yearning is often comingled with feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and frustration. We do not know how to meet the world’s standards and satisfy our inner cravings as well. Precious homemaker, when you desire order, peace and beauty, you are experiencing the manifestation of God’s image upon your heart.
The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers. The … first is Pishon; it flows around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. The gold of that land is good; the bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The …second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The …third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates. -Genesis 2:8-14
A Bible teacher at my local church, Kristen Sauder, helped me see this verse in a whole new light! Do you see what God has done? God is the original homemaker. When you are working in your home and using logic and care to make sure the needs of your family are met, you are emulating God, the creator!
The Garden of Eden was also a place of beauty. He sculpted trees that were beautiful and practical. It is no wonder we love to decorate – that was the first thing God did! Can you imagine God walking along the garden and determining the perfect placement for each tree, each flower, and its water source?
Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.- Genesis 2:15
Once God planned the ultimate garden, he did not send everyone away to gaze upon it from afar. He placed his family right in the middle of it and gave them responsibility for its care. If you homeschool your children, they are right in the middle of your home all day long! When you are delegating and teaching your children how to care for themselves and their property, you are walking in the footsteps of Our Father.
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. -Genesis 2:18, 21-22
What a creative God! He saw a problem. He took the resources available and made something pretty spectacular out of it. He took a rib and made a woman! My husband jokes that he can look through the freezer and pantry and think, “There is nothing for dinner.” I can go into the same kitchen and use the same ingredients make a big, tasty meal to feed a hungry family. That is God’s image stamped upon my heart. I can take what I have and make something better out of it. You can, too.
These skills you are honing and growing as a homemaker all serve to help you develop yourself more fully into the woman that God has made you to be. It really does not matter what title we give our humble job of homemaking. It won’t matter if you call yourself a Domestic Engineer and estimate a six-digit salary. What matters is that you were created deliberately and carefully by the God of the universe and he loves you. He loves the family resemblance. Praise Him for it, and seek ways to continue growing in His likeness!
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