i {heart} organizing

I ran across these photos on a website called "Beautifully BellaFaith" - but Google tells me it links to spam or other inappropriate content, so I can't pin my favorite pics. So...I thought I'd post them here on my own blog to keep track of them:

Credit: IHeart Organizing

These fun benches were created using two tall/narrow bookshelves and installing them on their sides - and then filling the spaces (shelves) with baskets!  What a splendid idea!  Benches and storage all in one. I wonder who I could get to make the cushions for these?  This idea was originally posted on the website, I Heart Organizing

Credit:  none found

How about saving counter space with a hanging fruit basket!  I've got the perfect spot for this...now I just need to find the basket!

Credit: none found

I love the idea of taking circular nesting baskets and attaching them to the bathroom wall - what a great and decorative way to store washcloths, hand towels, and bath towels. I wonder how difficult it will be to teach the girls to fold this way?

Korean Beef Bowl

KOREAN BEEF BOWL

1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes, or more to taste
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Cooked rice, for serving

INSTRUCTIONS

In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, red pepper flakes and ginger. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the beef as it cooks; drain excess fat. Stir in soy sauce mixture and green onions until well combined, allowing to simmer until heated through, about 2 minutes.  Serve immediately with rice.

I copied this delicious recipe and photo from this website.  Covenant Eyes doesn't like the website (not sure why, and I'm not willing to go looking for the reason), so I moved it here to make it easier to retrieve!

Restart

I've been toying with restarting my blog (it's only been about 8 months since my last post).  Gotta admit, I'm quite hesitant to jump in, because I don't want it distract me from the more important things...like quiet times with God, actually doing life and school and having fun with my family and friends.  When I mentioned this to Darren today, he suggested that I allow the blog to serve a particular purpose:  to briefly review what we covered in school the day before...thus providing semi-built-in accountability, as he will use these daily reviews to keep up with what the girls & I are doing in school. He and I both feel this will give him additional ways to engage the girls without me having to rehash the days events over dinner!  As an added bonus, this will also give grandparents, aunties & uncles a snapshot of our schooldays.

To keep me focused and the posts short and to the point, my practical husband suggested that I set a timer for 10 minutes...that will keep me from searching the web for just the right photo...agonizing over just the right wording...you get the picture.  I'm a perfectionist and this is admittedly a big struggle.  My husband gets me...he understands the way I tick and what I struggle with.  Yep...I love that man...and I'm so very glad he's mine!

This school year, we're re-entering the world of boxed curriculum, by way of My Father's World.  For several years now, I've wanted to design my own curriculum - pulling together different resources for the 3 R's - reading, wRiting and aRithmetic (along with art, music, science, history, spelling, etc.), and creating my own boxes to check.  Welp, I've had enough of that and am really ready for someone else to create the check boxes for me!  So...we're heading into the era of ancient Rome through the Reformation.  I'm most excited about studying the medieval portion of history!  Knights, kings, queens, castles, ahhhh...the romance!  To add to the fun this year, we'll be joining a group of friends to study the human body - using Lyrical Life Science (volume 3 - Human Body)...and loads of ideas found on Pinterest and all around the web.  The girls will also begin piano lessons for the first time.  We're all very excited!

Our first day of school will be Tuesday, September 3rd (we typically school through the summer, but this year, I wanted a solid break - so we schooled through June and are waiting until after Labor Day to begin). Our first week back will include our science club with piano lessons beginning the 2nd week.

So...now, I'm off to enjoy this last week of summer vacation...and the freedom of sleeping in, reading comic books, riding bikes, and swimming while all the neighborhood kids are at school (our pool is really quite big when we have it all to ourselves).

Happy last week of summer to you!

BTW - I didn't set a timer for this first post...I'm certain it's been longer than 10 minutes since I started!  Don't tell Darren!  :o)

Contentment

My friend Maria (from Heritage - Model - Legacy) inspired this post. Something I heard on the radio the other day - likely on my favorite radio station, K-Love - caused me to think about what word I'd like to adopt for 2013. Instantly the word "contentment" came to mind.

CONTENTMENT...with my home...in our finances...with where God has our family...in the homeschool lifestyle...with our worldly possessions...in all things.

God reminded me of the verses in 1 Timothy 6:6-8, "But godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be CONTENT with that."

No matter where God takes me, I know that He will provide...He has proven Himself faithful to meet my needs and the needs of my family over and over again. Leaning on and trusting in His provision frees me up to live a life of joy. Ahh, CONTENTMENT...

Monthly Organization Challenge

I don't know what it is about the new year, but I really (and I mean REALLY) want to declutter, reorganize, and redecorate!  Excited to see what this challenge might mean for the first two things on that "want list!"  Wanna join me?  Head over to Delightful Order and start organizing!

Returning from the Wilderness

Psalm 63

O God, you are my God, 

   earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
   my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
   where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
   and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
   my lips will glorify you. 

I will praise you as long as I live,
   and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
   with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

On my bed I remember you;
   I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
   I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
   your right hand upholds me.

They who seek my life will be destroyed;
   they will go down to the depths of the earth.
They will be given over to the sword
   and become food for jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God;
   all who swear by God’s name will praise him,
   while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

I feel like I'm returning from the wilderness.  I've gotten lackadaisical in my study of God's Word...reading it just to be reading it...mostly so I could check it off my mental to do list, and honestly, so I wouldn't feel guilty for not being in the Word. To be truthful, I may have been reading, but since I was not really reflecting on the meaning of the words as they floated past my eyes, it's as if I haven't been in the Word at all. I've found it very difficult to remember or internalize anything without this process of journal-blogging. And, because I didn't "write" down any of my thoughts as I've read through these last books, I have nothing to review, nothing to jog my memory.

This morning's reading included Psalm 63, a chapter near and dear to my heart and perfectly placed by the Lord on this day. I'd just mentioned to a friend this week that I felt like I'd been in a wilderness...wandering apart from close fellowship with the Lord. I realize it was not Him who moved...it was me. I'm the one who wandered...God was right there all the time, waiting for me to come back. Ah, my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live,and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Thank you Lord Jesus for drawing me back...close to Your heart...thank You for loving me.

The Law

The Pentateuch - completed.  Thankfulness for my Savior's sacrifice abounds.  Gratitude to my Lord overflows. Thank you Lord that I am free...free in you...free from the law.  Stick me to You, O Lord, with the stickiest of glue, that I might follow in your paths.  You always keep Your promises, O Lord.  Your eye is always upon me.

Deuteronomy 32:4 - "He is the Rock, His works are perfect and all His ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He."

Deuteronomy 33:26-27a:  "There is no one like the God of Israel.  He rides across the heavens to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.  The eternal God is your refuge and his everlasting arms are under you."

Psalm 91:14-16:
"The LORD says, 'I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble
I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.'"