Sit down with a cup of tea, relax, and write on a clean\u00a0tablet an ideal day’s happenings. \u00a0What are the four most important pursuits in your life? \u00a0What do you feel makes a perfect “you?” \u00a0Write four things that you would love to do before this year is out. \u00a0 Do you want to clean and organize your home? \u00a0Do you want to save money? \u00a0Appropriate a budget for gifts? \u00a0Do you want to finally plant that rose garden along your fence? \u00a0Do you want to wake early and pray before you begin each day? \u00a0Do you want to be prepared with homemade gifts before each holiday rolls around? \u00a0Do you want to exercise four times a week?<\/p>\n
Now, take a deep breath and realize that if you love to listen to music while you clean, and you\u00a0invest one hour of quality time taking everything out of the bathroom vanity, and put back four baskets, one for your spouse’s toiletries, one for you, one for band aids and antibiotic ointment, and one for extra toothpaste or lotion, you have just “cleaned” the bathroom cabinet for months and years to come!!!! \u00a0In one hour<\/strong>. <\/em>\u00a0(Of course you will have to wipe it out every once in a while, but if you stick a little canning label with the person’s name on it below each basket, the cabinet will organize itself from now on…..or at least you won’t really have to think about sweeping the clutter back into its home out of sight and readily available to family members who open the door in search of, say, aloe vera gel for a sunburn, and they know that, thanks to you, they can FIND it at the tip of their fingers!!!!!)<\/p>\n Your hour is worth its weight in gold when you realize that what you clean or prep\u00a0today will do you good for years to come.<\/p>\n While you wait in line with nothing but your phone in hand, copy and paste your favorite recipe pictures into a 2-month menu plan document or online program (my husband likes trello.com for this; copy the pictures you love from the internet onto your computer desktop and then just click and drag them into your trello window wherever you like!!) \u00a0Now, you haven’t got to stress every day or week about what you can find for dinner!! \u00a0You will never have to do all that headache of scrambling through a messy kitchen at the last minute, frantically trying to brainstorm an alternative to eating out (again!!)–Just five minutes in the morning pouring\u00a0stroganoff or chili ingredients into the crockpot gives you dinner and a quiet evening to look forward to<\/strong><\/em>. \u00a0If you need a list of the shopping basics for your two-month menus, on a saturday (or while you wait in line!!!! start this in your phone notes and email it to yourself and print it!!), type a quick list of the pantry items and vegetables\/fruits that you will need, make 50\u00a0copies of\u00a0it, and keep one in your daytimer or\u00a0put them all on a clipboard hanging from a nail in your pantry. \u00a0Quick-circle or highlight things as you notice you are getting close to the bottom of the barrel.<\/p>\n Go early one day, when there are no lines at the store, and get a few of the basics that you know you always need, like\u00a0extra flour and laundry detergent, etc:<\/strong> \u00a0Now, you won’t have to waste hours fighting the crowds at the last minute when you are hungry and stressed!! \u00a0Freeze everything you can (blueberries, strawberries–buy extra bananas when they are $.44\/lb. and freeze them, then just toss two frozen bananas\u00a0in the blender with a little milk and vanilla, and you have gourmet-delicious healthy ice cream!!)<\/p>\n Allow yourself to dream on pinterest.com for a few minutes; \u00a0what are some of the cutest, most practical gift ideas you love? \u00a0A toddler’s dress made from a cotton sweater? \u00a0How easy!! \u00a0just lay the skirt pattern on the lower hem of the sweater, and you have an almost instant gift!! \u00a0All right, so, copy and save a few of the photos to a folder in your phone or ipad. \u00a0Now, on a page at the back of your planner (more about your planner\u00a0in next month’s post), write the names of your closest and dearest friends and family, leaving a half page for each one. \u00a0As you are going about your day-to-day business, and you see something that appeals to you as perfect for your sister, write it down<\/strong> under her name. \u00a0Now, no more stressful racking-your-brain-the-night-before for what you are going to do for gifts!!<\/p>\n Are you beginning to see? \u00a0One hour of calm, delightful dreaming, can avert hundreds of hours of frantic, stressful panicking. \u00a0Five minutes of preparing what you love cuts out whole weeks of dreading what you procrastinated:<\/p>\n Because you are envisioning what you love and dream of, instead of groaning over the mess and chaos that you are too tired to confront. \u00a0<\/strong>What makes that dishwasher loading or folding clothes fun for you? \u00a0Music? \u00a0A scented candle? \u00a0A cheerful blue-and-yellow laundry room with a bright green basket of clothespins? \u00a0Inhaling fresh bread baking as you work? \u00a0Take time to plan a reward for yourself with a magazine subscription or your favorite hot tea, and a pleasant environment while you work. \u00a0(Are you too hot? \u00a0too cold? \u00a0do your feet hurt? \u00a0Address the issue, and get something to drink, before beating yourself up about it.)<\/p>\n And if you are too tired to confront anything, try to ask yourself why? \u00a0Often, a cup of hot tea with honey, or hot chocolate with almond milk, or hot coffee with maple syrup, helps clean your system and freshen your mind to be more cheerful about the day’s possibilities. \u00a0(More about nutrition and energizing your health, body and mind, in next month’s post.) \u00a0If you are too tired, turn on the dishwasher and slow-cooker, leave the rest of the mess, set your alarm for 5am, and GO TO SLEEP!! \u00a0<\/strong>(Your spine washes your brain with spinal fluid while you sleep, and your memory and nerves have a hard time being happy or processing anything without some quiet time to reset.)<\/p>\n Most importantly, you are a princess,<\/em> a child of God Most High, and He loves you more than the moon or the stars, and His quiet grace and lavish love yearn to wrap you in His safety\u00a0and cherish you ’til the end of days. \u00a0Oh, dear friend, heed His whispered reassurances; let Him pick up your burden, open the door in the wall, and bring you into His kingdom on His \u00a0royal, gentlemanly arm. \u00a0He is a fairy tale come true; He makes you brave, dear heart.<\/p>\n May He guard you safe in His Love ,<\/p>\n Your sister in Christ,<\/p>\n Jeanna<\/p>\n “O taste and see that the Lord is Good; how blessed is the man that trusts in Him.” \u00a0Psalm \u00a034:8<\/em><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sit down with a cup of tea, relax, and write on a clean\u00a0tablet an ideal day’s happenings. \u00a0What are the four most important pursuits in your life? \u00a0What do you feel makes a perfect “you?” \u00a0Write four things that you would love to do before this year is out. \u00a0 Do you want to clean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":691,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/snappa-1453499231.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":980,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":0},"title":"Why I Should Always Wear Coffee-Colored Clothes","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"May 15, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"A while back, this nice girl came into the Hallmark store where I was working and asked me for some creamy beige or taupe colored ribbon, and she began to tell me about her wedding, and her color palette of soft cream and gray and pale pink and taupe. \u00a0And\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "clothes"","block_context":{"text":"clothes","link":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/category\/clothes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"why i should always wear coffee colored clothes","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/why-i-should-always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/why-i-should-always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/why-i-should-always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/why-i-should-always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/why-i-should-always-wear-coffee-colored-clothes.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1123,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":1},"title":"Pear-Grape Gingerbread with White Chocolate Fudge Drizzle Icing","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"October 30, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"(word to the wise: this recipe makes 7 smallish loaves or 4 large loaves. \u00a0If you don't want that many, make only half of this!! \u00a0However, this bread is very good for you, so don't feel guilty about it!!) \u00a0 Use a wire whisk to stir dry ingredients together well:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "health"","block_context":{"text":"health","link":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/category\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pear grape gingerbread with white chocolate fudge drizzle icing","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/pear-grape-gingerbread-with-white-chocolate-fudge-drizzle-icing-2016-10-26_015.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":821,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/plan-your-hours-with-a-vision-to-realize-mentality\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":2},"title":"Plan Your Hours With a Vision-to-Realize Mentality","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"February 18, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"When I was in college, I thought that I was morally bound to run in circles as hard as I could to please everyone I knew. \u00a0My teachers, my family, random acquaintances, the hundreds of people I encountered in the hallways each day. \u00a0So, I tried. \u00a0If I hadn't succeeded\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "organization"","block_context":{"text":"organization","link":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/category\/organization\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"hours and accomplishment","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/snappa-1455765420.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/snappa-1455765420.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/snappa-1455765420.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/snappa-1455765420.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/snappa-1455765420.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":935,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/legit-ways-earn-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":3},"title":"Legit ways to earn online","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"April 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I wish that I had known sooner that I could easily earn gift cards and paypal payments and free merchandise, coupons, etc., on the internet. \u00a0(Seek and ye shall find, right?) My friend, I want to help you find the good windfalls that I have searched out. However: \u00a0there are\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "budget"","block_context":{"text":"budget","link":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/category\/budget\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"legit ways to earn online","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/legit-ways-to-earn-online.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/legit-ways-to-earn-online.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/legit-ways-to-earn-online.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":799,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/healing-greens\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":4},"title":"Healing greens: my winter garden","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"February 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Like the healing leaves of the Tree of Life can restore\u00a0the soul and spirit, greens can renew\u00a0your body. \u00a0Spinach, romaine lettuce, watercress, collard and beet greens, and many others contain powerful antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids that can renew your brain, help protect against alzheimer's and birth defects in pregnant\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "garden"","block_context":{"text":"garden","link":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/category\/garden\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"my cold-frame spinach and salad greens","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/my-cold-frame-spinach-and-salad-greens.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1062,"url":"https:\/\/gracelivingstonhillgirl.com\/pretty-rolled-cake-july-4th-celebrations\/","url_meta":{"origin":591,"position":5},"title":"Pretty rolled cake for July 4th celebrations","author":"Jeanna Porter","date":"July 9, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\"...and praise the Power that hath made, and preserv'd us a nation....and this be our motto, in God is our trust....\" -The Star-Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key \u00a0 This lovely cake turned out so well that I cannot but share with you the beautiful and scrumptious delight!! 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