Joyfull Living

Most people know there are certain times to make a purchase that will maxamize the bargain.  Certain seasons and times of the year, particular products are marked down to the lowest price of the year.  Free Shipping.org compliles a guide The Best Time To Buy Guilde with the best times to buy over 75 products.  Here are a few of the best things to buy as we approach the fall season. Swim Suits Every women above a size six knows there's really no good time to deal with the nightmare of finding a swimsuit that looks good and fits. The rest of humanity should wait until the end of summer, when crowds at pools and beaches begin to thin out. Best time to buy a swimsuit: August and September China and Flatware If you don't mind buying last-season's patterns, shop after Christmas and the wedding season. Best time to buy china and flatware: March and September Patio Furniture Wait until the first week after summer ends to buy your patio furniture. Stores like Walmart ...

Although my home is usually clean and tidy, the issue of clutter was always lurking close by!!  This summer a little bit by little bit, I've worked to clean out the clutter.  Even if everything is neat and in piles, if there is too much stuff - it is CLUTTER!! Now de-cluttering can be a painful process!  Memories are attached to much of our stuff and then there is always the "what if I need this again" thought that haunts us.  Here are a few tips before you begin to help eliminated and deal with clutter: 1.  Do you have more than one of some utility item? Keep your favorite or best one and toss the rest. Many people keep four potato peelers, three strainers and five 9x13 pans. If this is you, do you often prepare meals for 50 or more people? No? Toss it! 2.  Food stuff:   Although the $.10 a can was a great deal, if food won't be used, it becomes clutter.  If you have more items than your family can eat in a year, use them before you buy more ...

The daily Bible reading/devotion system I am currently using is a weekday (Monday through Friday) collection of Scripture readings.  So, for the weekend I read from the Bible in various places.  Proverbs is one of my favorite books to glean from and one of the things that draws me to it is how richly it speaks of wisdom.  I'm drawn to seek wisdom because I need it so badly (!), and it is one of the characteristics I want to see continually grow in my sons.  Proverbs also speaks much about sons (or children) and offers practical ways to teach and pray for wisdom for our children.   Here are a few highlights and prayers for children from Proverbs 1: That they may know wisdom and instruction and perceive the words of understanding. That they would receive from God's Word, knowledge and discretion. That they will hear and increase learning, be men of understanding and always attain wise counsel. That they will always hear and k...

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.   Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.   Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Born and bread in Minnesota . Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half- baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions. Doughboy is survi...

The lazy days of summer are winding down.  Last week I caught a glimpse of my youngest son playing on the tire swing.  Swinging back and forth with no worries in the late afternoon sunlight…fun along with a good photo opportunity!!  Don’t we all need carefree moments like this?

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.  I Timothy 4:7,8 As a regular exerciser, I can say that I love the effects of exercise.  The actual work of exercise maybe not so much, but the effects are certainly worth the effort.  I love how it makes me feel and how it makes me look. Exercise is good for you and when you know you are doing right for your body, it’s a good thing!  Stretching and building muscles help the body with endurance, aerobic exercise such as walking, biking or swimming keep the heart pumping and strong.  Exercise also keeps extra pounds off and tones the muscles. But exercise must be done a few times a week to be effective.  There are days I don’t really want to work out, or it’s incredibly hot outside etc.  But by making myself go...

This time of the year (back to school) always inspires me to greater prayer for my children.  Although we are homeschooling the youngest this year (and certainly need prayer!), the older two are in high school and college. As a parent, it is a privilege and responsibility to prayer daily for my children.  Always on the look out for ways to improve praying for my children, I came across some very interesting tips recently: Begin with a decision to take the time to pray for your children: Sounds easy, but it can take diligence and commitment to set aside a time each day to pray. Find a time that works in your daily schedule and do it....every day .  Even if it only five minutes, a habit will be formed that will bring blessing to the family. Write It Down: Often times we come across things we want to remember to pray for and it can just as fast leave our memory!  Think of the characteristics, gifts, talents that are unique to each child.  Write them down....

It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home.     Today will begin a new season and adventure for my home and family.  We will be homeschooling my youngest son this year and I will become a stay at home mom (again) in another week.  Our family strives on consistency and routine, so things like this change us and shake us up a bit, but we're looking forward to some good changes.  This will be the third time I've "come home" from an outside job.  Each time I learn a little more and grow as a wife and mother.  In earlier years, with much time on my hands, I used it unwisely, not paying attention to my home, but being involved and busy in things outside the home.  The last time I came home to care for our youngest son.  With two older boys and a baby, I was at home. but overwhelmed with the duties of the boys to make the most of the day.  This time, I feel better equipped and ready to be the keeper of my...

Friday With Friends is a great time of sharing and getting to know one another.  Jennifer is our hostess and asked the question this week "What Is Your Favorite Day Of the Week?"  This must be something I've never thought about!  Even now, I can't decide!  Call me weird, but I really like Mondays as they bring a sense of newness and routine to the week.  Whatever happened last week, can be erased and started anew on Monday.  It's a second chance sort of thing.  The stresses of Friday are forgotten through the weekend and with a new week, we can be ready to embrace new opportunities and give things another try! But then Fridays can be fabulous also!  As the excitement mounts for the weekend and the work of the week winds down, Fridays are great!  I'll have to go with both days for my favorite.  I know...it's against the rules!!  A great beginning and completeness through the end makes for a great week!!  Teach us to nu...

This picture was taken a while back and was the first time I played with black/white and really liked it!  Now, I’m hooked! Before: Adding Black and White in Photoshop Elements: Then with a verse applied:

A Back to School routine is always something I look forward as it follows the days of summer which usually have no schedule or routine.  Of course I love the lazy days of summer fun, but there is a time when my family needs a little more organization and structure.   I found a few tips to help us get into the swing of a new school year: Avoid Overcommitment September is an incredibly busy time. This is usually the month that other commitments in our lives, like sports or church activities, begin in addition to the start of a new school year. To help everyone in your family get the rest they need during this busy month, keep extra-curricular activities to a minimum whenever possible. Instead, help your kids concentrate on the routines they need to establish for a successful school year, including finishing homework, completing chores, and regular times for going to bed and getting up in the morning. The focus on these routines will help keep your kids from feeling o...

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.  Ephesians 4:31-32 With a new puppy in our family, my heart resonated with the tenderness of this picture that I found!  Puppies bring out a sweetness and tenderness in my guys like nothing else.  It is the cutest thing seeing my teenage boys speak softly and tenderly to a little puppy, to be excited to greet him as they get home.  Then, my big, tough husband…he just melts as he kneels down to greet the puppy!  As we go through our daily routine, we encounter many people, some family, some friends, some strangers.  Some may even tax our energy and try our patience!  This verse gives some directions on how not to treat others – with bitterness, clamor (anger), unkind words but also shares how to treat them:  with kindness and forgivenes...

Do you ever suffer from the after lunch feeling of barely being able to stay awake?  It hinders productivity on the job, at home and limits your energy for the rest of the day.  The culpirt behind that fatigue - "carbohydrates".  Carbohydrates bring a surge of serotonin which leads to sleepiness and low energy levels.  By doing a little change up during the lunch hour, the sleepiness can be eliminated and you can raise the energy level for the rest of the day.  The secret is to limit carbs and boost the protein during lunch.  Here are a few easy recipes you can try to reap the benefits of an energizing lunch! Waldorf Salad Combine a handful of each: walnuts grapes sliced celery Add cooked chicken breast and chopped apple.  Toss with a splash of lemon juice, olive oil and honey. Turkey-Vegetable Wrap Cut 1 each: carrot bell pepper small cucumber into matchsticks. Lay deli turkey slices on work surface and top each with slice cheese.  ...

It has only been in the last few years that I have gotten serious about home organization.  Now, our home is not total chaos or always dirty(!), but when it was time to find important papers, or that special pair of soccer socks on the way to practice, etc., I would flounder and get frustrated because I could not remember where they were.  It became apparent that some home organization was in order. Slowly and bit by bit, we are implementing organization that works in our home.  It was not an easy job, but it was and still is an ongoing process.  I came across an article talking about the high cost of disorganization and it brought up some great points of why it is so important to get a handle on important things. Money Good place to start!!  We all want to save money.  Being disorganized can be costly through daily habits. Things like:  Bills that are tossed into a pile and go unpaid until after their due date will acquire a late payment. Keepi...

Sunday lunch can become a great way to incorporate some quality family time in the home.  It is an easy tradition to create, after church come home to a delicious special home cooked meal.  Now, don't panic at the thought of a cooking a homemade big meal, especially on Sunday morning - it can be done!  It just takes a little planning, but the memories you will create and the atmosphere of the family table will be worth it. Here is a delicious recipe perfect for Sunday lunch: Sunday Special Pot Roast 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 envelope dry onion mix soup 1 cup water or beef broth 3 to 5 lb pot roast Super Easy directions In a slow cooker, mix cream of mushroom soup, dry onion soup mix and water. Place pot roast in slow cooker and coat with soup mixture.  Cook on High setting for 3 to 4 hours, or on Low setting for 8 to 9 hours. Full of Flavor directions: Mix soups and water in slow cooker. Heat a frying pan with a little oil...

For my youngest son’s recent 9th birthday, we finally gave in and got a puppy.  Mom and Dad know how much work a puppy is, but the heart cry of a little boy found us “puppy shopping”.   Here is Tex’s first arrival at our home: He is adjusting very well and although he takes a lot of training, he has found his way into our hearts: I love how a little puppy brings out the little boy in all of my guys!  I think he is a keeper and will bring much joy to our home!

James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." During this summer, bit by bit I have done some major organizing and decluttering in my home. I found out that I have a lot of stuff!  Stuff that can be useful and enhance my life…if it is being used.  There are tons of books, devotion material, education activities, healthy eating tips, home organization systems etc., that were piled up in closets and cubbies.  They don’t do any good sitting around, but now they are in an easy to find place and ready to be used.  This reminded me of the encouragement of this verse in James.  We are not to only hear God’s Word, but to be doers of what it says.  God’s Word gives and equips us with wisdom, strength, hope, joy, peace and instruction. If we follow it, blessings will follow.  May we seek to not only be hearers, but doers!

We have all heard of the power that our words hold.  Bad words can cut and wound while uplifting, good words can bring blessing and joy.  Everyday there is a balance in what not to say and then what needs to be said.  The Bible gives us guidelines and says much about our words.  One of my favorite verses to help me keep my mouth in check is  Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." A recent article broke this verse down, and I found there is a wealth of wisdom for us to learn about our words. Let - every word I say is a choice that I make no - none - there should be no reason or excuse for unwholesome words to come out of my mouth. Bad days, being emotional, someone speaking harshly to us etc. There is no allowance for Christians to speak unkindly toward others. corrupt - rotten, unwholesome, ugly language. These wor...

The summer marriage enrichment challenge Completing Him will wind up today!  The challenge for the week is: "Kiss him like you mean it!" I have noticed in my marriage, the longer we are married, the blessings of knowing each other so well and knowing our likes, dislikes and what works brings a comfortable state to the home. We just "fit" each other. We have his chair, my chair, our dinner spots at the table, we know the routine of reading the newspaper, when we eat dinner and the go for a walk in the evenings etc.  All of these are good things that bring stability and routine to our home and family.  But by never stepping out of the ordinary, we may forget that in our family, we were a couple before we had children and when our children have moved from our home and begin their own home and lives, we will still be a couple.  We will be a couple hopefully wiser and blessed through the years with the rich experience of family, but we don't want to end up with ...

Today I am over At the Well answering a question about prayer!  Come over for a vist!

Our family recently spent a weekend at the beach.  What fun it was to enjoy the surf, sand and sun.  Here are a few of our pictures straight out of the camera along with some photo editing done in Photoshop Elements. Before: After with a sepia tone applied: Before: Then after with some cropping and adding some sunshine highlights: Before: After:  Playing with some textures: Before: After with adding some warmth: Then some sepia: Black and White: Then – Before – all my guys.  My lens was fogged up: After with some blending and some sunset effects added: What a blessing to capture some great family memories and enhance them!