Admittedly, reading the entire book of Job is not the most fun.  It is quite a long book of the Bible, plus, the dude goes through pretty much every horrible life event a person could endure.  He loses all of his children, he loses his livelihood, he loses his health.  Job becomes absolutely miserable.  The book is, in many ways, depressing and discouraging.  And yet, the lessons I came away with from reading the book of Job have served me well – when I remember them.

There are three main lessons I learned while reading the book of Job.  One – Job refused to curse God and never stopped talking to Him, even in his misery.  Two – Job wasn’t afraid to “let God have it” while talking with Him.  There weren’t a lot of flowery, cheerful words shared while Job was lying there grieving his family and miserably ready to scrape his skin sores off with broken pottery.

And Lesson Number Three – Job’s friends did best when they kept their mouths shut.

In Job chapter two it says,

When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him.  When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.  Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights.  No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.  Job 2: 11-13

Seven days and nights – no one said a word.  They saw their friend’s misery, they wept for him, they hurt for him, they cared for him.  And they simply sat with him.

I felt very challenged by that.  What great friends!  I want to be a friend like this!

Oh but wait – Job’s friends couldn’t keep their mouths shut.  Eventually, they could stand it no longer and began giving Job all kinds of unwanted advice, even offering suggestions as to why Job was suffering.  And they didn’t just say a few words, they went on and on for chapters!  (Not that they knew they were speaking in Biblical chapters, but you get what I mean.)  Now, not only was Job grieving and in great physical pain, he had idiot friends to deal with too.  Just what he needed.

When a friend is suffering, often there are no words necessary – we just need to shut-up and be.  Just sit.  Just be there.  Pray.  That’s it.

When in doubt, when you aren’t sure what to say, when you can’t find the words you wish you could find that might offer comfort to your hurting friend - consider keeping your mouth shut, your ears open, and a prayer always on your heart.  That may be just what your friend really needs.

But, I also really appreciate the perspective shared in a comment last week – the perspective that my menu plan may be overwhelming to some of you.  The fact that I plan all three meals for each day of the week, and the fact that all three meals tend to be big meals – yep, I can definitely see how that could be overwhelming!

I decided to take the time to explain my menu plans just a little bit.  I certainly don’t want to overwhelm anyone, nor do I think that planning all three meals for every day of the week is a necessity for everyone.  It’s what works for me, but I know it doesn’t work that way for everyone.  In fact, menu planning doesn’t work at all for some people.  If you’re good at winging it at meal time - go for it!  :)

I have found that planning all three meals each day for our family works well for me for the following reasons:

1.  My family eats a boat load of food, for every meal.   Having a plan for which boat load of food is going on the table really helps me keep my head above water.  (Get it?  Boat load?  Head above water?  Ha.)

2.  Having a plan in place for each meal of the day helps me focus on other things so that I’m not constantly distracted by what I’m supposed to feed us next.  Trust me, the boys ask all the time – “What are we eating for breakfast/lunch/dinner?”

3.  Most of my boys wake up ready to eat my leg if I don’t have breakfast ready to offer them when they wake up.  I need to know what I’m making for breakfast before I get out of bed.  I like having two legs.  It’s very handy.

So the question could still be then:  Why don’t I just feed my family cereal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch each day, and then focus on our evening meal plan?

Well…I do feed them cereal and sandwiches every once in a while.  But wow, the cost of feeding us this type of meal really adds up for us.  I did the math one time on how much it costs to feed my family sandwiches.  You can read about that here, but add even more to that dollar amount because we now eat probably double what I added up for a meal since my boys are older.  (Did I mention that my oldest son has jumped several shoe sizes during the last year?)  Therefore, I find that it really saves our family a lot of money if I cook heartier, more nutrition packed meals if possible.

Some tricks I use to make putting three big meals on the table each day just a little bit easier:

~ Just about every meal I make for my family is simple – especially our breakfast and lunchtime meals.  I really don’t find that making a “bigger” lunch for the family takes a whole lot more time than making a bunch of sandwiches.

~ Sometimes we have leftovers to eat, so I don’t have to cook something new.  But I don’t always know when we’ll have them, so it’s hard for me to plan those into my menus.

~ I try to have food made and in the freezer to pull out for quick lunches.

~ I have a list of “back up meals” and all ingredients on hand to throw them together if needed.

~ While I do have a detailed menu plan, I switch it up all over the place throughout the week depending on what’s going on and what sounds good.  The plan is there, but it is flexible.

~ I give myself grace.  If I really just can’t get a good meal on the table, the cereal is in the background waiting to be pulled out.

For a little bit more information on this subject, sure to read my Cooking Healthy Meals When the Menu Plan Fails post.  Also, you’ll find a free downloadable page full of healthy, easy lunch ideas here.

Okay everyone.  Jump in here with your ideas and thoughts about making menu planning simpler.  What do you do about planning breakfast and lunchtime meals?

I really appreciated that so many of you left comments sharing your thoughts, struggles, and insights as to why eating a healthy diet may be difficult for you or for others.  I have experienced all of these same feelings and shucks, I still do sometimes.

I have definitely not “arrived” when it comes to this healthy eating journey we’re all on.  My family does not eat a completely healthy diet at all times.  There are many times that I compromise on what would be the best choice to feed my family.  There are times I pull out cereal because I can’t make myself get out of bed in the morning to cook the breakfast I have planned.  There are times when, while I totally know better than to buy the chips with hydrogenated oils in them, doggonnit, I want them anyway and I don’t care what’s in them, so there.  (Which is why you should never dangle a Nacho Cheese flavored Dorito in front of me.  I will eat it.  I love those awful things.)

Doritos aside, there are many areas of healthy eating I haven’t mastered yet.  And guess what?  I don’t even know if I want to master them.  How’s that for a bad attitude that sort of flies in the face of my “No More Excuses” intro post?  I don’t love eating completely raw foods.  Fermented foods, while they are great for digestion, aren’t my favorites.  And soaking grains?  I’m beginning to find that practice very annoying and am therefore becoming a bit rebellious about it.  There, I said it.

I’ve run the gamut of emotion on this healthy eating journey I’ve been on for the past several years.  The biggest feeling:  Guilt.  Now that’s a fun one.

Guilt when I don’t feed my family perfectly.  Guilt when I don’t feel like cooking.  Guilt when I know I could be doing better.  Guilt when it feels like other moms are feeding their children a healthier diet than I’m feeding mine.  Guilt when I read about what someone else is doing, but I just don’t feel like I want to go there yet.

Which is what leads me to the point of this post:  Please do not let anything I share on my blog, and specifically in this new No More Excuses series, overwhelm, frustrate, annoy, or otherwise make you want to throw Doritos at me.  (On second thought…)  :)

I want to share my thoughts in the No More Excuses series to encourage you to consider how you might be able to feed your family a healthy diet and help you know that it is possible for you.  But let’s also subtitle it the “No More Guilt” series, because we women have to stick together.  We may all be in different places in our healthy eating journey, but we’re all on the same team.  No comparisions allowed.  No guilt.  No pressure.  Just encouragement and ideas, sharing and inspiring.

And maybe, the occasional Dorito.  Someone stop me.

I, on the other hand, am completely non-meticulous and absolutely un-thorough.  I figure I can get more done with my time if I hurry through jobs.  Therefore, I slap sandwiches together, figuring that the mayo will surely smear itself around once it meets the cheese.  I don’t measure ingredients when I cook.  I don’t always close drawers or cabinets after I grab something out of them.  I hate reading instruction manuals, and don’t ever ask me to paint your walls.

And this, my friends, is my secret method for getting a lot accomplished each day.  Yes, my advice for you all is to simply do a half-hearted job of everything you do, and no matter what, do not be thorough, especially when making sandwiches.  ;)

I’m kidding of course, except for the part about the mayo.  Here are my five (real) ideas for ways I have found to accomplish much each day:

1.  Get Plenty of Sleep

Cutting out sleep in an effort to give myself more awake hours in the day is actually counter-productive for me.  If I focus on getting the sleep I need, I feel much more energetic and can fly through the day getting all kinds of work done.

2.  Get Off the Computer/Couch/TV/Phone

There are fantasic benefits to all of the above.  But if your time spent on each of them is not productive for your family, your work needs, and most importantly, for God’s Kingdom, get off.  The end.

3.  Make a List…and Then Do It

Not everyone likes making lists.  I get that.  But I find that if my to-do list is just swirling around in my head, I simply feel overwhelmed, and instead of plugging away at all I need to do, I feel bound by all I need to do and will, in turn, accomplish nothing.  Write it down.  Put your to-do list in perspective.  Then start knocking it out, one thing at a time.

4.  Stay Home

Funny thing about not being home – I can’t get anything done at home when I’m not here.  As much as I love being with people, going to ball games, participating in home school activities, etc., I find that I can get so much more accomplished if I prioritize our outside needs and work to be home as much as possible.

5.  Pray

We are on this earth to love God and serve his people.  Pray for God to show you how to use your time in a productive way that glorifies him.  When we are focused on living our life God’s way, much can be accomplished!

And for the record, my husband’s ability to be meticulous is very much appreciated.  The paint going up on our living room walls is looking fantastic.  Why?  Because Matt is doing it, not me.  Need I remind you of the slapping that goes on when I make sandwiches?  That method is not recommended for wall painting.

Be sure to read all of these great 5 Simple Ways posts:

• Springs Bargains-5 Simple Ways To Save More By Wasting Less
• A Familiar Path- 5 Simple Ways To Make The Most Of Your Pictures
• Smockity Frocks- 5 Simply Ways To Occupy Preschoolers
• My Blessed Life- 5 Simple Ways To Update Your Home Decor
• The Happy Housewife- 5 Simple Ways To Save Money In 2012
• Lynn’s Kitchen Adventures- 5 Simple Ways To Save Money In The Kitchen
• I’m an Organizing Junkie- 5 Simple Ways To Organize Without Spending Big Bucks
• Balancing Beauty and Bedlam- 5 Simple Ways To Freshen Up Your Wardrobe for 2012
• Southern Saver- 5 Simple Ways To Not Get Overwhelmed in Couponing

This year, we’re all working together on a new series of “5 Simple Ways” posts, which will be featured around the web tomorrow.  In the meantime, last years posts have been combined into a lovely little eBook that we are offering free for everyone.   You can download 5 Simple Ways at no cost, and enjoy learning all kinds of fun new tricks and tips!  (Here’s the print version if you’d prefer.)

Be watching for all of our new 5 Simple Ways posts coming up tomorrow.  :)

A huge thank you goes out to all of you who took the time to provide wonderful pictures and instructions to include in this eBook.  This eBook includes wonderful gift ideas such as pudding mix, bath salts, diaper rash ointment, cookie mix, seasoning mixes, chai mix, soup mixes, facials, hot fudge and much more.  Your creativity never ceases to amaze me, and I am very grateful for the help you all gave to make this eBook fun and helpful!

Click the link below to download this free eBook.

Download Gifts in a Jar eBook HERE

P.S.  If you sent in an idea and I somehow missed getting it into the eBook, please email me!  In addition, if your idea is in this ebook and you see any errors in the instructions, please let me know!

The real question should be, do you or your uncle or your neighbor’s cousin’s dog really care what time I get up in the morning?  Do I really think there are people sitting at their desk or at their kitchen table drinking coffee, pondering what time Laura gets up each morning?  If I think that people are actually doing this, how self-focused am I anyway?

Do you ever worry about stuff like this?  Are there decisions you’ve made in your life that you feel good about, or are even convicted about, yet you worry about what others might think of your decision?

For instance, I love schooling my kids at home and grinding flour to make our bread and baked goods from scratch.  I feel called by God to do these things for my family.  But I promise that I don’t sit at my kitchen table drinking coffee, pondering the fact that you might send your kids to school, buy white bread from the store or hand your kids a Twinkie for an afternoon snack.  You know why I’m not pondering your choices over a cup of coffee? Because I trust that you are living your life the way you feel God is calling you to live.  And also because I don’t like coffee.

The question is then, are we all walking around judging each other, or are we all just walking around thinking that everyone else is judging?  Do we look at what others are doing and feel “less than” because we aren’t doing what they seem to be doing?  If so, by whose standard are we living and by whose criteria are we making choices?

If we’re spending time worrying about what others think of us, it seems to me that we’re wasting a lot of God-given time that could be used in a much more productive way for the Kingdom.

I am working to believe that it really doesn’t matter what others think about the way I live my life.  What matters in my life is that I am following God’s calling for me according to scripture.  What matters is that I am listening to what He is asking me to do, serving the people He puts in my path to serve, and honoring Him in my choices and actions.

By whose standard are you living?

The following is an article I wrote for our local paper a couple of years ago, but never actually posted here.  I’m often asked if I regret not having daughters.   Though my life is void of pink hair bows, sweet dresses, paper dolls and braids (all things I dreamed of enjoying with my little girls before God gave me this passel of boys), I can answer truthfully that I do not for a minute doubt that God knew exactly what he was doing when he continued to bless us with boys.  My life is full of joy – The Joy of Boys…

When our first baby was born a boy, I was very happy knowing that any other children we would have in the future would be under the protection of an older brother.  When our second baby was born a boy, I was glad our oldest son now had a brother to play with.  When our third baby was born a boy, I decided that God must have something special in mind for our family.  THREE boys?

When I was pregnant with our fourth baby, you can just guess what everyone around me was saying.  “Finally going to have a sister for all those boys?” or “I bet you’re sure hoping for a girl this time!”

When our fourth baby was born a boy, they laid him on my chest, and all my husband and I could do was laugh for joy that God had given us yet another son!

Boys are so sweet.  Boys love their Mamas like crazy.  Boys think their Daddys are the best.  Boys….ah boys.  Boys bring such joy.

I love how boys play (now that I’m used to it!).  Our house is usually noisy, rough and fast – there’s not a lot of tip-toeing or sitting down quietly to color pictures at the table.

Generally…I find that the male greeting (between my boys and all of their friends who come over to play) has little to do with words and a lot to do with grabbing onto and pulling one another down to the floor into an immediate wrestling match.

I’ve learned to look the other way, smile, and shake my head about so many things that I used to fear would turn into a trip to the Emergency Room.  Boys play rough – they can’t help it.  They make noise.  It oozes out of their pores.  Rolls of wrapping paper become swords or light sabers.  Toast and grilled cheese sandwiches are chewed into the shape of little guns.  Math books become drums.  Little pink erasers become race cars.

Everything (everything) becomes a competition:  who can finish their milk first, who can put their jammies on the fastest, who can get from the kitchen to the living room without touching the floor.

It’s one big, loud, ball game at our house all day long – and I wouldn’t trade it for all tea parties in Boston.

I consider it a huge honor to be the mama of boys.  Boys who we pray will grow up and be Godly leaders some day.  Boys who we pray will be Godly husbands and daddys some day.

Oh, and some day, when my boys grow up and get married…I’ll have daughters.  I’ll take them shopping and we’ll cook and do hair together.

Until then, I’ll just continue to feed mountains of mashed potatoes and huge stacks of pancakes to all these boys while they make all the noises with their armpits that they are so good at making and while they laugh at all the things boys can’t help but think are funny.

They are…boys.

Boys who have completely and totally won my heart.

Our house is over 100 years old.  Sometimes it just feels so dirty.  And creaky.  And high maintenance.

Sometimes I feel like our house is a never ending project.  It is huge and the exterior needs painting.  Scraping, priming and painting this thing is taking forever and our house looks a little bit dingy while it undergoes the tedious and laborious process.

Inside, Matt’s been insulating several rooms.  Plaster comes off, dust forms everywhere, drywall goes up – walls are still unfinished while Matt instead focuses on painting the exterior.

The bathrooms need help.  Paint is peeling, the floors need tile.  Something weird is going on with the bathtub.  The sink has hard water stains.

Most of our walls aren’t smooth, mostly because they’re made of 105 year old plaster.  They have chinks and dings in them.

There’s a big draft in our guest room.  We don’t have central air conditioning.  It’s hard to keep our house warm in the winter.

Do you want me to keep going?

No, you really don’t.  I love my house and I’m thankful for my house, but it is very old and takes a lot of constant work to upkeep.  I don’t think we’ll ever be caught up on all the home improvement projects we’d like to do.

Sometimes that really bothers me.  We love having company, and sometimes I wonder what people think when they stay here.  Are they noticing the cracks?  The peeling paint?  The weird thing going on with the bathtub?  Do they see the dangling mini-blinds that our boys yanked down, the gap in the game room ceiling that needs repair, the piece of trim that is missing?

Maybe they do.  Some of them surely do.  Our house is a work in progress and my prideful heart sometimes cares too much about what other people think.  It really shouldn’t matter and it’s not something that should worry me, but sometimes I let it get to me anyway.

But recently, a friend that I haven’t seen for a while came over.   She and her family have been living in a tiny home with hardly any yard or living space for her kids to run around and play.  She wasn’t complaining, just telling me the latest.

She kept exclaiming over how big my house is, how pretty the living room is, how nice it is that we have a garden, how beautiful my kitchen is, how great, how great, how great.

Really?  My house.

Great?  Pretty?  Nice?

Did you see the unfinished drywall?  The varieties of colors on the outside of my house as we go from yellow to bare wood to white primer to taupe?

It seems that it’s all a matter of perspective.  And a new perspective is what I need.

What other people see or notice or think doesn’t matter.  What matters is that I appreciate the gift God has given me.  Even if the gift does have peeling paint.

My house is beautiful and we are blessed.

It’s all a matter of perspective.

What are you thankful for this Gratituesday?  Write about it on your blog, then come link up with us here.  If you don’t have a blog, be sure to leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

If you are linking up a blog post for Gratituesday,
please copy and paste the following sentence into your post!  Thanks!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!