A little about a Mommy with Littles...

What is a Beautiful Calling?

When I chose the name for my blog, I was mostly thinking of my calling to be wife, mother and keeper of my home. Upon further reflection though, Beautiful Calling has another application. Any woman, of any age in any season, who is in the Will of God is fulfilling her Beautiful Calling.

A Little About Me:

I'm:

• a Saved by Grace Christian
• a happily wife married to Scott, a wonderful man (2005)
• a busy stay-at-home mommy to Chloe (2) and John (7 months)
• a caregiver to Jaiden (2) three days a week
• a Cupcake baker and a Bunwich maker (seriously!)
  I'm also a new blogger and I am thrilled that you are here!! Welcome to the Ultimate Blog Party of 2009! Never heard of the Ultimate Blog Party before? Well, neither had I but, I suggest that you head over a take a look...after you've explored my blog that is. There are prizes to be won!

A Little About My Blog:

I was domestically challenged when I first got married in 2005! This is a bit of an understatement :)

Since then, with the Lord's help, my desire is to answer my beautiful calling - which is not all about housework! I am learning to be the helper my husband needs; an example and a teacher to my children so that they will come to know, love and serve God. I want to Wait on the Lord with my life! With His help, I want to be keeper of my home and to be a good steward of the time, talents and resources that the Lord has entrusted me with.

This blog is an honest record of my successes, failures and lessons learned (and the one I am learning!) I pray that here you will find something helpful, encouraging or motivating! Read more here at Why Blog?

I also host Tune-Up Tuesday so be sure to come back for that!

A Giveaway!

If you have read The Symbol of a Beautiful Calling, then you know how I feel about aprons. Come back on Friday the 27th for a chance to win a fabulous apron!

***NEW NOTE: I was planning to have an apron giveaway on Friday but I found out that a friend's blog is having one on Friday!! GO HERE FOR INFO ON BRIANNA"S GIVEAWAY. We'll have our apron giveaway in April! So isn't that neat? You'll have an opportunity to enter two apron giveaways - aren't you glad you stopped by?!?

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Did I mention that by participating in the Blog Party, you have a chance to win some fabulous prizes. You don't have to have a blog to participcate My top prize picks are:

• Adorable Eleven Toddler Shoes (USC45) sponsored by Wishing Penny
• See Kai Run Shoes (USC11) sponsored by See Kai Run and Travelling with Baby
• Beautiful Butterfly Dress (USC42) sponsored by Sew Fierce
• $50 Hatley Gift Certificate (USC26) provided by Hatley
• $50 Madre Gear Gift Card (USC 66) provided by Madre Gear
• Or anything relating to little ones as I have a baby and a 2 year old.

See Kai Run Giveaway

Does your toddler need new shoes? Mine does, so I've entered the giveaway at Travelling with Baby for a chance to win a pair of See Kai Run Toddler shoes! Don't forget to join in with the Ultimate Blog Party 2009 for a chance to win even more prizes!

The Will of God

The will of God is doing today what you know you should. What is the will of God for my life, job etc.? He will reveal it to you in His timing. For now, just do what you know you should. Care for your family, use your time & talents wisely, go to church, read you bible, pray...just do it!

The Cupcakemobile

This morning started early again as I iced 190 cupcakes before the little ones got up. After breakfast, into the van went Chloe, Jaiden, John, my double stroller and the cupcakes!

I love this double stroller - it is a Peg Elegante. It isn't the most compact stroller since on this particular model you need to remove the seats to fold it down but it was just what we needed. I had looked at another peg stroller that folded right down but decided that this one worked better for two toddlers...more room. Did I mention that it is over $900 (eek!)for this stroller new? I found it on Kijiji and was able to pay for it with cupcake money. It was the Lord who opened the door to get it for such a great price and it was Him who knew how it would more than meet our needs. I was soooo excited to find out that we could use it for cupcakes too!

Anyway, when I take off the back seat and also the canopy for the front seat, I can pile 175+ cupcakes into my cupcakemobile along with John in the front and my two little girlies holding on to the sides. We look like a parade, I guess, and got a lot of funny looks but you know - we got all the cupcakes delivered safely and it sure beats the wagon we used to use!

With the cupcakes delivered, we continued on to the Library where we picked up all sorts of wonderful new books. Hurray! Chloe loves stories. We only picked up a few books that go along with our Learning Poster theme this week so we might make another trip again next week.

Remember Friday is the last chance you have to enter for the Beautiful Life Management Planner Giveaway!

Tune Up Tuesday: Bible Reading

A google search of the word 'Tune-Up' revealed the following definition:
An Adjustment for Better Functioning
A search for the definition of 'Adjustment' revealed the following:
A Small Change, A Minor Correction, A Modification
More on Tune-Up Tuesday here.

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I love to read organizational books, or books on time management. I begin to tingle when I hit the women's section at the Christian bookstore. Books on becoming a better wife, mother, deepening my prayer life...the list goes on. I also love to read blogs on the same subjects. Oh, how I love to read and oh, what a desire I have to answer Christ's call to come up to higher plains.

It has been said that Christians, as a whole, spend more time reading motivational, inspirational or self-help books than they do reading the bible. I hate to admit it but this is true of me.

Oh, don't get me wrong - I read my bible (almost) daily and I know that I am growing in Him. But since my children arrived, I have less time to read and when faced with a small window of time in the evening for reading, many times I opt for one of the above-mentioned books rather than my bible.

Isn't that interesting (and foolish on my part)! My book choices are good ones, as are my desires. But are the book choices the best choices? Heart(h) Management had a great post about good vs best choices here.

Would I rather read a book about my husband or would I rather read a love note written directly to me by him?
The Bible is God's love letter to me!

If I had something that wasn't functioning as it should, wouldn't I be best reading the manual that came with it?
God made us, knows us best, understands how we work, what we need and God gives us everything we need to know through His Word. There is no better book to read than the bible to help me become a better woman, wife and mother.

Other Christian books are good and can help us to think of things in a different way or show us how to put something in to practice but if we (me) allow them to become more important (or find them more exciting) than the Word - then we (I) are (am) in need need of a tune-up in this area!

Tune-Up Mission: Spend more time in the Word than just my morning chapter.
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Want to join in? Leave a comment. What 'Tune-Up' are you working on this week? (If you need ideas, please refer back to this post.) Do you have a successful "Tune-Up" accomplishment to share? Leave a comment or add a direct link to your blog post below to encourage and inspire others. Don't underestimate the power of accountability - it's a great motivator!

Safety is Important!

Our Monday Morning Baking! Aren't we safe?

On Saturday we made a quick trip to Walmart to purchase canning jars to organize our spice cupboard. While we were there we bought Chloe her first bike helmet...in a gender neutral color so that John can use it next. Aren't I frugal? Ha!


Anyway, since Saturday Morning, Chloe has only taken it off to sleep and bath...in both cases it wasn't willingly. I was battling a bug so we didn't go to church on Sunday, I would have drawn the line there! No helmets to church!

Saturday afternoon we went next door for a quick visit. My neighbor wondered if I wasn't a bit over-protective with a helmet for backyard play?
Sunday afternoon Chloe fell down our stairs coming down from her nap. Wouldn't you know - it was the only time she didn't have her helmet on! Ugh!

So here is my sweet Chloe in her new 'hat'. If you happened to miss John in his hat - click here.

Menu Plan Monday

Welcome to my first ever post on Menu Plan Monday. I was actually debating on whether or not to join in this week since my weekly menu plan looks very sad indeed but it is such a busy week for us that 'quick fixes' will need to suffice!

Breakfasts:

• I used to make nice hot breakfasts every morning until Chloe discovered cereal with milk. It is all that she wants for breakfast (unless she was allowed to eat pasta) so this week we have: Honey Comb, Corn Pops or Fruity Cheerios along with a drinkable yogurt.
  

Snacks:

• Melon Popsicles - these came about because melon was on sale. I bought it because Chloe loves melon and I thought it would be great to put in the food processor for John. Turns out...doesn't matter what I do with it...John doesn't like melon. My DH suggested making John's pureed melon into Popsicles and Chloe loves them!
  
• Cookies - this morning when I put on my apron, Chloe immediately asked to put hers on and 'help'. Well I wasn't really doing anything that required help but with that cute little face peering up at me - we made cookies and here's the proof.


• Kielbasa & Cheese - we went to the market on Saturday and daddy bought Chloe a treat: meat! Chloe loves her "meat" (kielbasa) so we have some for snack this week.

Lunches:

• We have some left over pork, steak and pasta that we will be using up for lunches this week. If we run out of things, Kraft Dinner is a treat and goes over really well.

Dinners: This is the sad part :)

• Monday: Grilled Cheese and leftover Coleslaw. We are meeting everyone for bowling tonight so dinner needs to be quick!


• Tuesday: Farm Fresh eggs, Home-Made Bacon, toast and strawberries. It's going to be so beautiful out today. We're off for a park play date and I have an order of 150 cupcakes for tomorrow that need to be baked today. Scott has a meeting tonight too.
  
• Wednesday: Baked Pasta. Ice & deliver 150 cupcakes! Tonight is also church night. Busy Busy!
  
• Thursday: Steak, Potatoes & Cauliflower. We'll eat like kings tonight since my dh has starved all week. Plus it is another easy meal since we're off to the Toronto Zoo today. Hurray!


• Friday: TBA but possibly eating out. Chloe is sleeping over at Nanny's tonight and we are scheduled to have a play date with some grown-up company. Today is also the day that the Beautiful Life Planner Giveaway ends.


• Saturday: Soooo excited. Today is my spa day. They are no longer a regular part of my life so it is a special treat indeed. Since my maternity leave is finished in July, I want to get my allowed number of massages in before my benefits expire! Lunch is catered in my a gourmet local eatery. Dinner? Hmmmm...

Join in on Menu-Plan Monday. Do a post on your blog and link to here. Don't have a blog? Just leave a comment!

What God Says about What We Say!

A friend shared this with me the other day. I am sure the verses are familiar to most of you but sometimes we all need a little reminder in one area or another. Before I posted them I wanted to go through and read them all to ensure that the references were right and relevant. I've added a link to the actual verse for you (because I am nice!)

Reminders of God's love, provision, and mercy are a great way to start off the weekend!

God has a positive answer for You:

You say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible Luke 18:27

You say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest Matthew 11:28-30

You say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you John 3:16

You say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15

You say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps Proverbs 3:5-6

You say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things Philippians 4:13

You say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able II Corinthians 9:8

You say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it Roman 8:28

You say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

You say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs Philippians 4:19

You say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear II Timothy 1:7

You say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME I Peter 5:7

You say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom I Corinthians 1:30

You say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you Hebrews 13:5

Don't forget to enter our Fabulous Planner Giveaway here!

A Great Giveaway!

My Frugal Friday post is our Giveaway Announcement!

What is more frugal than free right?

Especially when it is something that will help you be a better steward with your time.

Time is one of the most important resources God has given us!

ENTER OUR GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize:

Beautiful Life Management System

Courtesy of:

Beautiful Calling and GraceWorks

How to Enter:

1. Visit GraceWorks and take a look at the products they offer.
2. Come back here and leave a comment in this post with your color choice for the BLMS Binder if you were to win.
3. If you have a planner already, comment on which supplies or pages that GraceWorks offers that would most help you!
4. Be sure to leave an email address, website or some way of contacting you :)

If you need to catch up on our planner series, please read A Real Blessing, Plan to Bless, Morning Latte Anyone?, Our Beautiful Calling isn't ALL about Housework! and finally, The Main Thing.

The fine print: Open to USA and Canada residents. One comment per person please. Entries (comments) must be received by March 21, 2009 at 11:59pm (though I will be asleep at that time)!

The Main Thing: Planner Part 4

After I've had my Morning Latte, I use that wonderful plastic bookmark to move on to the main page where I will spend most of my day.

Now my planner was very full last week when I took the photos of it as I had many things to get done so please don't pay my personal list much attention. Actually maybe before I post this I will update the photos.

Moving on: The page starts with a list in italics across the top with some suggestions for starting the day (bed made, dressed, quiet time etc.) which helps you start the day feeling like you've accomplished something already as you check them off (or maybe that's just me?) There is also a little saying along the bottom that I like to read/pray in the morning. I mention it in this post here. Anyway, from there I go to the appropriate box for the day and see what is in store. This is where there are a couple variations of the sheet (BLMS package comes with a sampling of all three). One option for the sheet is a character trait to work on for the day, another is a partial cleaning list, and the one I use is a full list of daily task suggestions. I use the full list format because it helps me to keep a balance in my housework - an area I struggle with! Housework is important but it isn't my first priority - or is shouldn't be! Each day I try to accomplish only what is in that little box, along with doing anything else on my Quick List. It helps me to avoid over-scheduling myself (usually!) with to-do tasks! I don't always get everything done, but it keeps me on a little bit of a schedule.

On this page there is also a small spot to record a blessing, memory or lesson (or something funny your children have said or done!). There is another spot to record what you're having for dinner, and a spot to plan your menu or schedule for the day. I use it to write down what I eat since that is another area that (post-baby) I am struggling with. There is also a spot to check off your water intake, exercise and vitamins etc.

This page is great because it encompasses everything that I need in a planner. There are more details that I haven't talked about but if you have any questions, ask them in the comments section below or contact Graceworks.

I was going to write a separate post on the Keeping in Mind page but I think we'll roll it into this post here and finish up our planner series. We may come back to it at some point but I know you are all anxious for the chance to win your own Beautiful Life Management System!

So, the other frequently used page in my planner is the "Keeping in Mind" page. It has a spot for errand lists, short and long term tasks, birthdays coming up etc. Things that maybe don't fit into your weeks planning but you don't want to forget. This post doesn't really do justice to the page but it will suffice.

In my planner I also have some other pages that don't necessarily come with the BLMS but I've felt were helpful:

Mountains of Success -It has been great for those long term tasks that have many parts - or that are ongoing. You start at the bottom of this page and fill it in upwards with the date and baby-step you took towards your final goal. My first Mountain of Success page I filled out was "order to my home before baby (John)". On that it I have written things like set up Chloe's big-girl room, clean out MB closet, organize nursery, wash and sort all baby clothes etc. It is so great for seeing progress on long-term tasks or even personal growth goals. It also has a work sheet on the back to really think things through!

Readers Journal - I know I bought this separately. I read a lot. Some books I keep, others I pass on, some I reread fully and others only partly. This page has been great for recording the important things that I gleaned from each book so that when I think"where did I read that" (which happens often) it is easier to figure it out. For books where there was only a handful of things that were beneficial, I can write them down and pass the book along.

Apples & Chalk Dust - I purchased this separately. Though my oldest only just turned two - we have a "learning poster" and I keep track of things that we have learned so far. There are a variety of pages designed for homeschooling moms to keep track of their lessons.

Address Book - which is so handy.

Monthly Calendar - Good for month at a glance!

I also have another binder which has my main menu plan (picture won't come up), an itemized shopping list and zippered vinyl pouches for my coupons (which are more organized than they look!). This is the binder that I take with me to the store etc.

So that sums it up for now. At some point we will probably come back to the planner/planning topic since it is something I am passionate about but for now I think we have covered enough.

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If you have any questions, comments or tips to share - the comment section is there! (That rhymes! Maybe that will become my end of post tag-line LOL!)

Tomorrow's post will tell you how you can win your own Beautiful Life Management System, or some Planner Pages (if you have a planning system already).

Our Beautiful Calling is NOT all about Housework!

Once upon a time I had this crazy and flawed idea that I needed to do everything every day. Each day I would start at one end of the house and try and clean the whole thing. It never never happened (it's a big house and I have little ones). Each day I was left with the feeling that I was failing in this area. Blame Martha Stewart or society and the stereotypical "perfect housewife" of the 1950's, or I can just blame it on myself for not viewing my tasks in light of what God's Word says.


God certainly has given us our houses to look after...but why? To be used as a base-camp, an outreach, a training center, a place to relax/be refreshed, a place that is used to bless our family, others, and ourselves while bringing Glory to God. I'm sure you can think of more things that our houses are. But God intended for our houses to simply be a tool. We ought to keep our houses in order however, with people living in them, they will never be perfect. Is God concerned with our houses or the people in them? It doesn't bring Him any honor when I am impatient with my children because they are 'disrupting' my housecleaning and it doesn't glorify Him when I am racing around to get the house perfect for when DH comes home so that when he does come home I am flustered and not calm, happy and mentally available to hear about his day. This is an area that I am making progress in but still struggle with!

I have a GraceWorks Planner that has a wonderful page in it with household task suggestions. Having this page in my planner with a set day to work on things assists me in finding balance so that my home is clean but I am still meeting my family's needs! I'm there to read that story, go for that walk or take time to snuggle. We won't be taking our houses with us to eternity, but we can take our families. Time is more wisely invested in them. Our Beautiful Calling is about PEOPLE!

In my Beautiful Life Management Planner, the main page has a saying on it "This day will be marked as success in eternity, not by what I accomplish but because I aimed: To Follow Christ radiantly, reflected by a heaven-directed heart, a joyful spirit, a welcome & (increasingly!) orderly home, wise minutes, healthy choices and loving eager relationships." Each morning I read this and pray that I would use each day to glorify him and not be so busy with my own agenda.

This was actually part of tomorrow's post however since the post for tomorrow is already lengthy, I thought I would give it a post of it's own. It is such an important topic. Tomorrow is our last planner post, and Friday our contest opens. Be sure to explore Graceworks so you're all ready. Hurray!

Thoughts or Comments? Please Share!

Photo from fotosearch

Coming Soon...

Recommended Books through Amazon

Watch My Sidebar for the Links!

Morning Latte Anyone? Planning: Part 3

Some people start their mornings with coffee or tea. For me, it is a shower, which is where I also send my prayers heavenward! A strange place to pray maybe but it is a constant for me in the morning and it works in this season of my life.
After that, I have a very loose schedule that includes dressing the little ones, making my bed and coming downstairs for breakfast. If you read my Tune-Up Tuesday post here, you will know that I am working on sitting down to eat all of my meals. It is then that I read a chapter of scripture. Associating breakfast with morning bible reading has helped me be regular in both areas. I usually read aloud (a few verses anyway)because Chloe gets excited when I take the bible down (it's actually her bible because mine is upstairs.) I aim for a chapter but some days it really is only a verse or two. Right now I am reading in Proverbs (31 chapters 31 days in March). I try to have some lingering 'quiet times' throughout the week where I read more and pray more but in this season of life, short and sweet is all that works for my mornings. Anyway, after my bible reading - however long or short it is - I turn to the page in my planner called Morning Latte.

Morning Latte is the page that your morning starts on in the Beautiful Life Management System because in order to have that beautiful life that you so desire - Christ needs to be first in your life, day and planner. Now the planner has two plastic movable 'bookmarks' which are so great because one is for your devotions and one is for your main planner page so you can always find exactly where you are!

Spending time in the Word is mandatory and so important. It is also something that,many times, is hard to do faithfully. Monday to Friday isn't where I struggle as much. It is the weekend when my spouse is home and we're off to do this and that. Using the Morning Latte has really helped keep me accountable because you are jotting down what you read and a quick 'Today's Aspiration' each day. When you miss a day (or a weekend), there is a big blank spot staring at you accusingly. But as we talked about here, God is a God of second chances and whether it is morning, noon or night, you can start over right!

Now I am a fan of the Beautiful Life Management System (can you tell?) however Graceworks also offers a variety of different devotional pages for those of you who already have a planning system in place.

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Care to share what works for you to start your day off with the Lord? Feel free to share in the comment section! And yes, our BLMS giveaway is still to come!

Tune-Up Tuesday: Second Chances

A google search of the word 'Tune-Up' revealed the following definition:

An Adjustment for Better Functioning

A search for the definition of 'Adjustment' revealed the following:

A Small Change, A Minor Correction, A Modification

More on Tune-Up Tuesday here.
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I had been pondering what my "tune-up" would be this week and though I have a long mental list of things in need of tuning, nothing seemed quite right for the upcoming week.

I prayed about what I should be focusing on in the coming week while I was doing our baking this morning. In between baking batches, I began peeking at some posts on my reading list. My e-friend, Brianna at Heart(h) Management shared a link on her "Sit and Sip Saturday" which was so timely. When I began reading it, I knew that it was what the Lord was calling me to work on this week.

This post entitled "Taking Back the Day" challenged me. I encourage you to stop by and read it for yourself.

Some days, I wake up and everything goes just as it should. I spend time in prayer, read a chapter of my bible at breakfast, have a productive morning, have a read quiet time in the afternoon while the girls rest, dinner comes together wonderfully and I greet my DH with a smile when he comes home.

Other days, nothing really goes well and if I get a verse read during breakfast, that is the greatest accomplishment of the day! On those days, I just think "survival" and I'll try again tomorrow.

But we don't have to let an entire day go by as a "write-off". That certainly isn't redeeming the time now is it?

Our God is a God of second chances and, though each day His mercies are new, the moment that we turn to him, we can start again! Whether you've messed up big time, woken up "on the wrong side of the bed", found your attitude lacking or just feel overwhelmed, STOP immediatly and take that moment now to turn to Him. Ask him to help you start over the right way, or with the right hearts attitude. This very moment you can take back your day (or your life) and get back on the right path - His path!

So my tune-up focus this week: to truly redeem my time each day and when I find myself getting off course, to stop, pray, evaluate what is happening and adjust my priorities to reflect what they should be. A big challenge but with the Lord's help - this week is going to be a great one!

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Want to join in? Leave a comment. What 'Tune-Up' are you working on this week? (If you need ideas, please refer back to this post.) Do you have a successful "Tune-Up" accomplishment to share? Leave a comment or add a direct link to your blog post below to encourage and inspire others. Don't underestimate the power of accountability - it's a great motivator!

GraceWorks Planner - Plan To Bless! Part 2

Before we venture any further into the planner itself...

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My friend at Graceworks, Tricia, has written a great little 20 page e-book entitled "Planning to Be a Blessing." Reading it was an encouragement to remember why we are concerned about planning and being organized. It also provided to practical "how-to's" and a little motivation to tweak my system a little more to make it really work for me. She has kindly agreed to let me share some of the things that really leaped out at me but I highly recommend getting a copy for yourself. Please read more about getting your FREE copy here or click on the image.

The first was Purpose. What is my purpose? A mission statement.
"Your mission statement sets before you a reminder of the character you wish to display, the growth you would like to accomplish and the rewards of faithfulness when there is no instant gratification. It helps you to remember that in order to 'be' something in the future you must begin to 'be' it now."

Tricia shares in her e-booklet her personal mission statement and I found that we share very similar goals, I had just never put mine into words and down on paper. Since reading this booklet, it has helped me to understand how helpful and important it is to have your goals laid down in such a concrete manner.

There were three things in her personal mission statement that really jumped out at me:

• To be able to accept all that comes as Christ's best for me at that moment.
• To be able to offer up all my daily tasks as done to the Lord (which we touched on here)
• To be organized and self-disciplined, so that I will be able to 'redeem the time'

So before we go any further on the topic of planning - take a few minutes to sit down and think about the things that you want to accomplish as your life's work. Write them down and really evaluate them.

One last thought to share with you. Tricia reminds us in her e-book, "Having a new planner will not make any lasting changes in the beauty and peace of your home unless your heart is truly transformed by the Holy Spirit as you are washed in his Word daily."

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We will 'visit' again soon with more on the planners topic. If you missed the first post, click here to read it. Our fabulous planner give-away is still to come!

April Showers Here I Come!

Thanks to my mother and her Value Village bargains - John is all ready for those April showers which are soon to come! Isn't his little rain hat cute?

Making Your Own Stock is Easy!

My addition to this week's Frugal Friday - STOCK!

Though making your own stock is old hat to some, it is also a daunting task to others. I'm here to tell those of you who are intimiated by the idea of making it yourself that it really is dead easy and comes in so handy!

Whenever you have any sort of meat bone-in, whether it be chicken, turkey or beef, save those bones. You can make a flavourful stock by roasting them and then putting them in a pot of water to simmer (not boil!) for a few hours. To make it taste even better, onion, carrot, celery, dried herbs, a tablespoon of tomato paste or a little salt & pepper all make a great additions but even the bones on their own will work just fine.

Now if you don't have enough bones from one meal, I've always just bagged them, put them in the freezer and waited until you have a good amount. Simply thaw them, give them a quick roast in the oven (to maximize flavour) and put them in a pot. Cover the bones with water and add whatever else is handy. If you are a real frugaller (is that a word?), then you wouldn't have anything needing to be used up in your fridge but alas, sometimes I have veggies in the fridge that are teetering on the brink. I toss them in the pot too. One day my husband came in while I was making stock and asked me why there was one lonely mushroom floating in the pot. I explained that I found it in the fridge and it was awfully sad-looking, so I decided to put it to good use :)

I freeze some of my stock in icecube trays for a nice gravy or those recipes that you need just a little. I also freeze it in two and four cup packages for bigger things like a quick soup or stew.

Using homemade stock is good for a number of reasons

• Makes your dollar go further when buying meat on the bone
• Is Easy
• Healthier for you because you control the amount of salt etc.
• Good way to use anything up that is going bad (make a veggie stock)
• Recipes are more flavorful using stock rather than water
• Have you checked out the price of stock at the store?!

Now maybe all you Frugal Mommas out there are already doing this but it was something I have only started doing in the past year. It was an exciting culinary milestone for me and my new-found frugalness!

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Do you have a reason why home made stock is best? Or a tip about making stock? Leave a comment by clicking on the word ' #comments' below.

Pasta Pesto - Fast and Easy

Pasta Pesto is my "oh no what are we eating" dinner when the day has gotten away from me, or my fallback when we need to go grocery shopping and I have nothing else. It is also a good meal for Wednesday nights when we're rushing to eat and get out the door to church!

• Boil your pasta
• add a TBSP (depending on how much you make) of Pesto* and stir.
• it's especially nice with a little grated cheese.

*I haven't yet made our own pesto - I buy it in a jar but you hardly use any with the pasta. There are two types: tomato or olive oil, parsley, garlic, pine nuts etc. unopened it sits in the cupboard and once opened keeps for weeks/months in the fridge. Even my daughter (who is two) loves it.

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I suppose I am cheating this week since it really isn't a recipe but like I said, it is my fallback pasta which we eat a couple times a month! Have a good pesto recipe for me? I'd love to hear it!

GraceWorks Planner - A Real Blessing - Part 1

Today I want to share with you something that I feel has really helped me to get (somewhat) organized. My GraceWorks Planner!

A year+/- ago my E-friend Crystal of BiblicalWomanhood did a few posts on the importance of a planner. It was through her site that I discovered GraceWorks. I was so excited to find a company that designed planners for stay-at-home mommies and not just for women who were out in the 'official' workforce. The other important feature for me is that it is designed to keep your focus where it should be - on the Lord.

I excitedly ordered their Beautiful Life Management System (and far too many other things) and waited for my package to arrive.

My new BLMS package arrived with a basic binder, the pages, tabs, a package of tea and some tapes by creator, Jennifer Lamp Neef, who walks you through how to set up your planner and some practical ideas for starting. The whole package is 39.95usd and is a little pricey but it contains everything that you will need as well as a coupon for a free refill of your daily pages.

Over the next few days (or week depending on how my days are), we'll dig a little deeper and I'll walk through a little more about planners and what I use them for. (I have two : my home planner and then my menu/shopping list/coupon planner)

When we have completed our planner topic - we'll have a great giveaway so be sure to follow along!

Deluxe Templates - He's a Blogger Genius!

Welcome to the new layout for Beautiful Calling. I think it is happy, sweet and simple - like we as Christian women should be!

I really liked this template, downloaded it and for some reason, Blogger just wouldn't accept the HTML for me. I was so frustrated as I knew that this was the template for Beautiful Calling! I spent almost 2 days tinkering with it, adjusting it and still - it would not work. Finally, I actually cried and went and had a bath. It is amazing the level of frustration that computers can cause. I prayed that the Lord would give me contentment with the current layout that I had set up (which was nice too).

The Lord answered in a different way - a much better way as we know he is able to do! Rather than giving me contentment, he gave me help from a wonderful person named Klodian at Deluxe Templates.

My new friend was able to give all sorts of suggestions and tips and then magically fix it in minutes. He is very knowledgeable about blogger, is friendly, helpful - and fast! His site is full of great templates and I would recommend that if you are looking for a new layout for your site...check out his first! You can follow the link in this post or you can find the link to his site through my sidebar under "Some Great Sites".

Thank you Deluxe Templates!!

TUNE-UP TUESDAY: MY DESK

A google search of the word 'Tune-Up' revealed the following definition:
An Adjustment for Better Functioning
A search for the definition of 'Adjustment' revealed the following: A Small Change, A Minor Correction, A Modification More on Tune-Up Tuesday here.

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Another Tuesday has come and gone. In the past week I ate most of my meals. Hurray. If you would like to know why this is an accomplishment, please read last week's post here. And for the record, the scales slid down a titch. Yay!

This week I am going to work on organization. This is a very broad subject and since we learned in our first post that we are to take "baby steps", I am going to practice organization with my desk. I find that whenever I am cleaning our home, tidying up, opening the mail etc. everything that I want to get done or do something with is piled on my desk. For some of you, your "catch-all" may be the dining room table or the top of your fridge but mine is my desk. It drives me crazy because it is usually hidden underneath mounds of stuff. My desk is a "secretaire" type desk and could actually fold closed if it were ever not covered with papers, shoes, mending etc. This photo was taken this evening before I typed this and after I've already spent a day last week sorting. I need a little extra motivation to deal with the last of the piles which consist of correspondence to write/mail, surveys to fill out, paperwork to file, bookkeeping to be done, things to be listed on ebay and a variety of things. Once I have cleared it all out and organized it into a space I can work with (and I've done a lot already), I will then need to work on following through and keeping it that way - but that's a challenge for another week.

So My Tune-Up Tuesday Mission: Get that desk done and the real tune-up...discipline to keep it tidy!

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What 'Tune-Up' are you working on this week? (If you need ideas, please refer back to this post.) Do you have a successful "Tune-Up" accomplishment to share? Leave a comment or add a direct link to your blog post below to encourage and inspire others. Don't underestimate the power of accountability - it's a great motivator!

NEW LAYOUT

Please be patient with me as I play with a new layout :) It's harder than I thought to get a custom template to work in blogger! I've had a couple different templates now but the one that I really wanted, seems to have something in the HTML that blogger doesn't like and I can not get it to work! Ugh!

WAITING ON THE LORD

I work in our "Special" Sunday School class. Our class encompasses some wonderful people who are mentally challenged. They are some of the happiest, most thoughtful and thankful people you will ever meet. I could actually do a post just on our class but today's post is actually of "waiting".

Ruth, my dear friend and Titus 2 woman (in spirituality, not age - just in case she reads this lol) does the short and simple devotion each week. This week since we were learning the song "They that wait upon the Lord" she thought we would look into what it meant. It is found in Isaiah 40:31.

I have always thought that it meant to wait on the Lord. To be patient, to trust that His timing is right. To pray and not worry; to truly rest in him. While all of those things are true and certainly a good application there is another one I had never thought about.

Waiting on the Lord like a waiter or in my case waitress. Serving the Lord, doing whatever we can to please Him. Another key point is that we can be waiting on Him while we're waiting on Him. Serving Him, while waiting on Him. If we are waiting on Him in that sense, he will renew our strength. If we do what he has called us to do (our beautiful calling) in HIS strength, he will renew ours as we need it. In serving Him, doing His bidding, becoming more like Him we will be able to rise above, to soar above our problems. How? God will give us a different perspective - His perspective. This isn't to say that our life will be trouble-free but that we will have the right perspective and focus so that we can allow the troubles and trials we do have to accomplish that which God desires them to accomplish. Only then can we come forth as gold.

Maybe all of you have already thought about it this way but never I had. It is so exciting when the Lord reveals to me yet another facet of His Word - as simple as it may be to some. Let's make sure that we are truly spending our loves "waiting" on Him!

WHY A BLOG? A Post for My Mother!

When I first told my mother that I was starting a blog - her first response was, "Why?!? You have an awesome life with lots to do already." She didn't actually know what a blog was but to her it was synonymous with "wasting time & nothing else to do". I assure you that I have no time to waste nor am I at a loss for things to do :)

So Mom, here are a few good reasons to blog:

• Bring Glory to God
• Inspire / Motivate / Encourage Others
• Outreach
• Motivation / Accountability
• Source of Income (someday?)
• Free Things to Review (if they are relevant to my life and my readers)
• I have lots to say :)
• And it's fun!
  

Let me elaborate a bit if you will:

In all that I do, first and foremost I want to bring honor and glory to God. I want to have Him be my focus each day in all that I do, say, think, and write.

I have had over 450 visitors to my site in the past 3 weeks (my entire blogs lifetime at this point). I am honored that you are reading this and I hope that something here will encourage, challenge, or motivate you to do as the Lord calls you. I have so many post ideas and things I would like to share. I am thankful for the opportunity to share with you my successes and failures along with things that I have learned and am learning.

I believe that most who visit here know the Lord, however there may be some who do not. I pray that through this blog, my life and my humble ramblings, the Lord will speak to your heart. If there is any way that I may be able to help or encourage you, please contact me at beautifulcalling@gmail.com.

This blog also blesses me, as do the comments and emails I receive. It helps keep me focused on what is truly important and it also helps to motivate me and keep me accountable at times. I've started Tune-Up Tuesday mostly for my own edification. Knowing that I've posted it out there helps me to keep focused on the area I want to work on (and accountable to finish it!). Crystal at Biblical Womanhood has been such a blessing to me for the 3+/- years I have been following her blog. Hers was the only one I read until recently. She has encouraged me in so many ways and I am not sure she knows how much her blog has helped me.

Our financial situation changes yet again this summer and we will find our family income at about 45-50% of what it was. 25-30% of that drop was unexpected and the other 25% was our choice since we feel it is important for me to raise our children. When we planned for me to be a stay-at-home mommy in this season of our lives, we hadn't expected the other income loss as well. I strive to thrive (that rhymes!) with this new challenge and using the Proverbs 31 woman as an example, I seek new ways to earn an income from home. I am so thankful for the doors that the Lord has opened thus far with Yummy Bunwiches, babysitting and Cupcakes! Once I have an established blog, I eventually hope to bring in a small income through my blog with Ebooks, sponsors and the like. For a great blog posts on the Proverbs 31 woman - you can visit Refresh Moments.

I also have found that I enjoy blogging. It is a bit of a diary and a journal. A record that I can look back on to see how far I've come; how far the Lord has brought me. I do strive to be honest in my blog. Although our natural tendency is to put our best foot forward, I don't believe that giving the "illusion of perfection" is God-honoring. I think he would rather we be real.

Blogger is free, you can try it out. Perhaps you will be able to bless others and receive a blessing as well.

So these are some reasons (and good ones I think!) to start a blog. After reading some posts, my mother agrees :) If you can think of any I missed, please it in the comments section. I would love to read it!