Cheaper By The Half Dozen

A Dog Named Christmas

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

In the midst of your decorating, baking, shopping and other holiday preparation, be sure and take time to sit down and enjoy the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movie on Sunday night, A Dog Named Christmas. This heart-warming story has a special place in my heart because the author of the book and I share the same agent. My agent just got back from the preview in LA and he said the movie was very well done. So I asked him if I could post a link here and he said by all means.

I can't wait to watch on Sunday night! Leave me a comment if you plan to watch it or if you read this and you already did watch it. I will comment and let you know what I thought about it.

Want to know more about this movie? Check out the interview with Jonathan at She Reads.

Thankful

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 13:55:00 +0000

Today I will be cooking and cleaning and generally getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. I am thankful today for one of our small group members, Misha, for taking my turkey breast yesterday at the last minute and agreeing to smoke it for me. I am so happy about that smoked turkey I can't tell you! I am doing two-- one smoked and one in the crockpot all night. Which means, no turkey in the oven all morning tomorrow. Can I get a glory hallelujah? We all know which one will be gone first. I am already thinking of what I will do with the leftovers from the one in the crockpot. Turkey sandwiches? Turkey tetrazzini? Turkey soup?

Today I am going to prepare as many things ahead of time as I can. This will free up my time tomorrow for more important things like talking to our guests and perusing the sale ads. I plan to have a slow, relaxing day tomorrow and I am going to make that happen by working like a crazy person today.

I hope that you all have a great Thanksgiving. Take time to focus on being thankful no matter what circumstances you are in. This has been a trying week at our house so I know what it means to have to work at being thankful. I was thankful (ha!) that I decided to do my nightly thankful emails back and forth with my friend Melissa. This has helped me stop at the end of each day to focus on what I had to be thankful for in that day. No matter how bad the day had been, I always found something to be thankful for. Even the littlest things.

I hope that you find much to be thankful for-- big and little. I will be back Monday and we will get started talking about Christmas!

I am also thankful for my friend Glynnis, who posted a sweet post about my ebook. Do you need some Christmas inspiration? Check out Glynnis' post.

Christmas Ebook Giveaway

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Moms In Need Of Mercy did a review of my Christmas ebook and is also doing a giveaway. If you are getting into that Christmas spirit be sure and check out what she has to say!

Daybook: The Monday Before Thanksgiving

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Outside my window... The weather has turned cold and rainy. It feels like November.

I am listening to... The George Winston holiday Pandora channel. Beautiful instrumentals of favorite Christmas songs that are so peaceful to work to. My kids say it's too early but I say nonsense!

I am wearing... pajamas that I have had since the 90's. They are white with red roses all over them. My family makes fun of them but they are my most comfy pj's.

To be fit and happy... getting that 500 calorie workout in every day. Can't say the same for eating right with the holidays upon us. Am aiming to do the diet again in earnest in January, a perfect month for dieting. Nov/Dec is not. Especially when one is on deadline for some very tough edits. I might be fit but I won't be happy.

I am thankful for... a van that runs again. I was without it for three days last week and that was not fun.

I am pondering... the things I am thankful for each day so I can send my "thankful report" to my friend Melissa each night.

I am reading... Stein On Writing, The Southern Living Christmas Cookbook, Christmas Kitchen by Gooseberry Patch

From the kitchen... getting ready to cook Thanksgiving lunch and host a dessert social that night. Light fare from now til then. Easy meals that don't require a lot of time in the kitchen. I see Domino's in our future. And maybe Chick fil a.

I am creating... Advent plans. Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree devotional starts November 30th. If I can get my act together we might be ready to start it!

From the learning room... Some Jan Brett books, Milly and the Macy's Day Parade, Thanksgiving At Our House

On my iPod... Andrea Bocelli's new Christmas cd, courtesy of my mom

Around the house... cleaning and preparing. Must get my table centerpiece and settings all figured out so there are no surprises on the big day.

One of my favorite things... the way my heart turns toward home in earnest around this time of year. I don't have to force myself or talk myself into it.

A few plans for the rest of the week... hosting small group on Tuesday, lots of grocery shopping, hopefully turning in my manuscript to my editor for this round of edits (we're almost there!), seeing The Blind Side on Friday night with my honey. We tried this past weekend but it was sold out. Having a housefull on Thursday.

A Picture Thought I Am Sharing: A 4 year old princess

A Scripture For Sunday

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Psalm 118:5-6a, "In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and He answered by setting me free. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid."

I wrote this verse in my journal this week. I was feeling some financial anguish and it was getting me down more than I wanted it to. In this verse the word "anguish" literally means "tight place." So when we are in a tight place-- stressful, overwhelmed, crowded by the demands on us-- God answers by setting us free, literally providing a larger place. I needed Him to set me free, to relax that tight squeeze I was feeling. And I can say that, while the circumstances haven't changed, my perspective has. I don't feel the tightness-- the anxiety I felt when I cried to Him. I know He is with me and I have nothing to fear, even an uncertain future. He is sovereign and I can rest in that.

If you are feeling anxious about something, cry out to the Lord and witness His amazing ability to set you free.

Searching For Gratitude

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

It's been a hard week this week for several people I know. One woman I don't know wrote me just to let me know she is really struggling and asked me to pray for her. Another friend told me she lost her job. Just like that. Another friend said that she is writing a book and the words just weren't coming. Another friend's mom was admitted to the hospital. And finally another friend emailed me yesterday just to tell me that she was having a really bad day and was very discouraged.

When my friend and I chatted yesterday about her really bad day I confessed that I was having a really bad day too. We found out yesterday that our van has to have a new transmission. It will cost $1500. Right here at Christmas. I wasn't happy. I went around feeling like the sky was falling. The economy has definitely affected us and it feels like the financial security we worked so hard to obtain is fast giving way.

My friend commented that she knows she needs to be more grateful. She said that she is concentrating on being more grateful-- especially at this time of year. I told her that I knew I needed to do the same. So I issued both of us a challenge right then. I told her that she and I were going to search out the things we could be grateful for and then send each other an email with what we found at the end of every day between now and Thanksgiving.

So that's what we're going to do. Instead of dwelling on the bad, we are going to search for the good. And instead of just devoting one day to being thankful we are going to spend this next week focus on gratitude, documenting it and then sharing it. I am excited about this challenge and glad to have a friend who will join me in this crazy plan. Thanks for being a good sport Melissa!

And finally this is a great post on being grateful.

Christmas Ebook Excerpt

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

From The Trenches of Motherhood has posted a review and excerpt from my Christmas ebook. This excerpt is on saving money at Christmas. I am sure that's a subject that all of us are thinking about this year! Check it out at http://thetrenchesofmotherhood.blogspot.com/

One Week Countdown...

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Have you made your Thanksgiving plans yet? It's just a week away!

At our event on Tuesday night, a woman asked me if I was going to be able to go somewhere and relax for Thanksgiving. With a big smile I told her, "Oh no, I am having Thanksgiving lunch at my house and then we are hosting a dessert open house that night. It will be a busy day!"

She shook her head. "Just what you need! More stress!"

The truth is, I am looking forward to this Thanksgiving more than ever. It will be a day to just focus on my family and not on my to-do list.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the foods, the attitude of only focusing on what we are thankful for and not on the gifts like we will be doing in a month. There is a sense of anticipation in the air of Christmas coming... but the stress hasn't hit yet and there is just pure excitement. We eat pumpkin spice donuts from Krispy Kreme for breakfast. We watch the Macy's parade. Then it's time for football and feasting. When the meal is over and the kitchen swept clean, I put my feet up for a couple of hours and savor the sale ads, deciding if there's anything worth getting up at 4 or 5 am for. (Usually I decide no!) Then I put pies in the oven, light some candles, and we open our doors for guests. For the next several hours people come and go, eating and talking. The noise is deafening at times, the environment crazy and crowded. It's Thanksgiving at our house and I wouldn't change a thing.

The other day I saw a sale ad for a complete Thanksgiving feast from the grocery store and chuckled to myself. My husband still talks about the year his mom did that when he was a kid. In her defense she was a busy working mom and didn't have time to put on a big production. But Curt never forgot it. He practically wrote it into our vows: "To love, honor, and cook Thanksgiving dinner." It's a big deal to him so I have tackled the turkey and learned how to make a delicious sweet potato casserole and all the other stuff that goes with making a feast he looks forward to all year.

If cooking Thanksgiving intimidates you, I thought I would share some resources that I have found to help out. First, in my ebook A Recipe For Christmas Joy, I have a complete holiday meal with all the recipes I personally use. So you might want to check that out. I give several ways I have used to make a turkey... including how to cook a turkey breast that is frozen. So if you forget to thaw your turkey, you have a backup method! Voila! Crisis avoided!

Just fyi-- I most always cook a turkey breast. If we are having a big crowd (like this year) I cook two. We prefer white meat so the other parts are just wasted anyway. And cooking a turkey breast is much simpler. My advice: look for ways like this to diminish the stress of the meal and focus on the fun. I even have a recipe that is so simple and yummy that I will share. Put a (thawed) turkey breast in your crockpot. Mix a can of cranberry sauce, a packet of onion soup mix, and a can of water in a bowl with a whisk. Pour it over the turkey breast and cook it all day. This is falling-off-the-bone good. Add a few simple favorites-- some green beans, some corn, some sweet potato casserole and some Sister Schubert's Parker House Rolls and you got yourself a great meal! Ok, you can add some stuffing/dressing if you must. :) The main thing is, don't stress yourself out. Here's another great option for cooking your turkey in the crockpot.

If you are planning to cook the whole bird, my friend Charlie has created a very funny and informative turkey tutorial video on her blog. Charlie has a wonderful sense of humor and that comes through in this video. Just the name of her blog makes me laugh! If you are someone who wants to watch something before you do it, check out this video.

And if you want something to keep the kids busy on Wednesday while you are prepping your meal, let them make these cute Turkey centerpieces. These look like something even this craft-challenged mom could do!

Whatever you are doing, spend some time today thinking through ways you can plan a great Thanksgiving. Maybe it's time to start a new tradition. Maybe you need to sit down and make out your grocery list and get your coupons and sale ads in order so you can get the best deals. Maybe you need to start now, a week ahead of time, focusing on all you have to be thankful for-- instead of saving it just for the one day. Maybe there's someone on your heart that God is nudging you to invite over for Thanksgiving. Our family is hosting two girls who are far from their families this Thanksgiving and can't get home. So we are serving as a substitute family for them and are so excited about it! Listen to those nudgings in the days to come.

I would love to hear what your favorite traditions are or if you are trying something new this year. Maybe you'll help our family discover something new to incorporate into our thanksgiving!

Event Update

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:10:00 +0000

The event at Calvary Baptist last night went great. Thanks to those of you who were praying! Their God Encounters monthly events are a blessing to many women. If you live in the Winston-Salem, NC area, be sure and check out their website, as this is something that would be great fun to attend on a regular basis!

I snapped a few pictures I thought I would share...

This is me and my second cousin (? not sure how all that works) Andrea. Her mom and my grandmother were sisters. It was so neat to see her there and talk about family memories.

(from left) me, Luann Prater from P31, Curt and Robin Bass

Luann helped with the book table, prayed for us and was just her usual lovely self. Be sure and check out her weekly radio show, Encouragement Cafe.
Robin and I used to attend church together years ago. She moved to Winston Salem a few years back but we were able to reconnect last night. She brought pictures of homeschool events we did together and Curt had a good time laughing at my hairdo's and large glasses I wore in the 90's. Thanks honey! I was, incidentally, pregnant in most of the pictures.

Finally, this is me and Mary, the coordinator I worked with to arrange the event. She and Alysia, her co-coordinator, work so hard to pull these monthly events off. They have such a heart for women and are true prayer warriors, as is their entire prayer team. They were so great to work with and made the experience fun. We were blessed by our time at Calvary Baptist and won't soon forget it. Thanks ladies for making it possible!

Turning My Pouting To Praise

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:38:00 +0000

This morning I sat down with my Bible and journal to start my day. But instead of coming to God with praise, I came to Him with my list of grievances. "Lord, I am stressed." "Lord, I am overwhelmed." "Lord I am nervous." I carried on like this for awhile, writing it all down and generally sounding a lot like the Israelites probably did. And you might recall how great that turned out.

So I was doing my Bible study and ended up in Hebrews. Specifically Hebrews 10:35-36. This is what it says:

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to
persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he
has promised.

I noticed that I had written a date in the margin. I do that when a verse really ministers to me. Sometimes I can go back and say, "Oh that was when my son was in the hospital." "That was when my grandfather died." But this one I couldn't figure out at first. What was going on in July of 03? Like most mothers, I figured out how old my kids were at that point (it's the timeline of my life...). It dawned on me that that was the summer I committed to write a book and enter into this world of ministry. I can still remember calling my friend Lysa and saying with confidence, "I am going to do this. I am going to stop saying 'someday.'" Right around the time I placed that phone call, I marked that passage.

I stared down at the date and calculated how long it had been since I wrote that. More than six years. I stared at the word "persevere" and knew that, when I marked that verse, I had no idea how long my journey would take. And then I realized that I had just spent the bulk of my time with God bemoaning the fruition of my writing and ministry dreams. I was complaining about my deadline for the novel and whining about the speaking commitments I have coming up. As I re-read those verses I had marked long ago, God got my attention. He had given me what He had promised, opening doors of writing and speaking that were only dreams 6 years ago. My perseverance had paid off.

And how did I react? By pouting about it.

I know. It makes no sense. Why would I do that? Instead of pouting, I should be praising. Instead of sulking, I should be savoring. Instead of regretting, I should be rejoicing. I clearly needed an attitude adjustment. Sitting there this morning, my journaling changed. I started thanking God for the opportunities He has given me. I determined that, from now on I am going to move forward with an attitude of praise. I am not going to worry about what lies ahead. I am not going to whine to God about all that's on my plate. I am going to celebrate where He has me... and how far He has brought me. I am going to trust that none of what's happening comes as a surprise to Him, and that He will supply my needs like manna-- just enough of what I need for that day. No more, no less.

Today my assignment is to prepare to speak tonight. I am going to stand back and watch Him show up. I am going to remember the opening lines of those verses, "So do not throw away your confidence." And remember that my confidence is not in myself, but in Him.

Scripture For Sunday

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Philippians 3:8-9a, "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him."

How do we "consider everything a loss"? We hold onto everything in this life loosely. Nothing becomes more important than following hard after Him, than wanting and trusting His will for our lives. I heard recently that the best prayer we can pray is "Whatever Lord." We open our hands and let Him take things out and put things in according to His plan. When those things aren't what we want, we find a way to accept that. Not because we understand but because we trust that He is indeed working all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) We look past the hardship to the glory that He will receive in the process. We say to Him: You are enough. Everything else is rubbish. And in the process we find abundant life, freedom, and grace. Priceless treasures we can't obtain any other way but through knowing Him.

Novel Update: What I Am Learning

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:28:00 +0000

During this time of editing my novel, I am learning quite a bit. I am learning that I don't know nuttin bout writin no novel. I am learning that I have a lot to learn and that, chances are, I will never stop learning no matter how long I keep at this. I am learning that the difference between wanting to quit and actually quitting is just a phone call or email from a friend saying, "You can do it!" I am learning that I don't have to have the answers. I can pray and ask God for them and He will supply what I need, when I need it. It might be encouragement, information, or that perfect word or idea that has been eluding me. I am learning that writing this novel is the hardest thing I have ever done. It is taking so much more out of me than I anticipated. And yet, I am seeing God at work in a whole new way. In another post I will share two specific things He has done recently. But for today I just wanted to say that, when this book comes out and you hold it in your hands (I hope you will want to hold it in your hands!), remember this: I can't take not one ounce of credit. Other than showing up, I did very little. God used His wisdom and His people to accomplish this book through me, in spite of me.

I have learned that most of all.

The Christmas Binder

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

The other day I broached the subject of planning for the holidays-- from Thanksgiving all the way through New Year's. Here's an article by my friend Molly Gold about how to plan for any guests you might be expecting: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752967

And below are some good links I found on how to create a Christmas binder to help me stay organized. You might remember last year I made one of these, and I have been thinking I need to get it back out and revamp it for this year. I figured in all my researching, I could share what I found with you! I hope these links inspire you to start thinking about organizing your holidays.

http://amongstlovelythings.blogspot.com/2009/11/adventchristmas-notebook.html

http://christmasplanner.com/

http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/organ/msg0914395412957.html?6

http://www.controllingmychaos.com/2008/11/christmas-organized.html

http://www.christmasorganizing.com/node/9

http://tonsofsons.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/wfmw-christmas-plannernotebook/

http://familyfun.go.com/printables/anns-amazing-holiday-planner-703975/

http://www.organizingyourway.net/printables/christmas-planner-printables

http://www.lynnskitchenadventures.com/2008/11/holiday-planning-notebook.html

The Battles Within

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome to all of you who stop by after reading today's P31 devotion on fighting. If you don't ever fight with your spouse, you can stop reading. But if you have had an argument or two with your significant other, read on. You're not alone.

The other day my friend Ariel and I were discussing birth order and which combinations make for the best marriages. She said that she and her husband were the combination that's supposed to work the best: a firstborn married to a baby of the family. Knowing the answer already, I asked her what the worst combination is. She answered, "Two firstborns."

Yep. That would be me and Curt. Two very strong personalities battling it out, willing to go to the mat over just about everything. Now we don't fight all the time, and we don't fight nearly as much as we did at first. But we can still get into a fight-- usually out of nowhere and usually over nothing. When we got in a fight a few weeks ago, my oldest asked me what we were fighting about. I told him the honest truth, "Something stupid that neither of us will remember later."

"Why do you do that?" he asked.

I told him, "That's marriage honey. Two people trying to live together all the time are bound to disagree. And sometimes they fight. Plain and simple."

But maybe it's just us. I know some couples don't fight. They are blessed. We are... not in that category.

So let's just say I've had to learn a thing or two about fighting-- how to respond, when to respond, and if I should respond. I don't respond perfectly all the time. Not even half the time. But every so often I do respond correctly, where once I had no idea how to get it right. Every year I get a little better at dealing with the desires that battle within me. Instead of acting selfishly I am learning to pray, to walk in truth, to take each thought captive and to be silent. None of it is easy, but it does work when I remember to do it. God wants to teach us through our struggles and He can use our marriages as training ground to make us more like Him. The trick is, we have to let Him.

And not fight Him on it. :)

We're Back!

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:16:00 +0000

We are back from Hearts at Home. It was a great weekend! It's sad to do our last Hearts at Home and we hope to one day go back. We love the people who work with Hearts and have had a blast getting to know them better over the course of the three events we did in IL, MI and MN.

Now it's back to work and back to real life. The kids are glad to have us home and we are certainly glad to be home! We love getting away and participating in God's work but we love coming home and participating in God's work here too. The routine of real life is a good thing that I intend to embrace and enjoy this week.

Minnesota Here We Come

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

In a few hours Curt and I will be boarding a plane headed for Rochester MN for the Hearts at Home conference, where we will share our story about becoming debt free as well as tips for raising financially savvy kids. We appreciate your prayers as we offer encouragement and information to those who are on their own journey towards becoming financially free. Also pray for the awesome young couple who will be with our kids while we're gone. They have sat for all six kids several times and keep coming back for more! We are so glad they do!

I shall return on Monday with a post about doing those little things God asks of you. I'll see you then!

Yeah, I'm Gonna Go There

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:56:00 +0000

Are you a planner by nature? I am. Or maybe you aren't a planner by nature, but you want to be or know you need to be. Well the holidays are a great time to get into planning mode. Maybe by aiming to plan for this time of year, you can apply what you learn all year round! And if you are already a planner, well have I got some goodies that will make your nerdy heart smile!

My friend Molly Gold is doing a great video series on what you can be doing now to plan for the coming holidays-- Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's too.

Go here to see the list of her videos (parts I and II are up and she adds one each week):
http://bit.ly/9Tzee

And you can download her free holiday planner here. I don't know about you but just looking at that checklist makes my heart feel all fluttery!
http://www.gomominc.com/holidaychecklist.pdf

And here's a countdown for what we can be doing now to get ready for Thanksgiving at the end of this month:
http://bit.ly/47N2Ng

Finally, don't forget to order my ebook A Recipe For Christmas Joy. This book takes you from Thanksgiving all the way through New Year's and is filled with recipes and fun ideas to make your holidays wonderful. There's a planning countdown in there written by Lysa TerKeurst, ideas for saving money at Christmas, and instructions for gifts you can make, along with new traditions you can begin with your family. Just go to my resource page at P31 to place your order and within minutes it will arrive in your inbox! http://shopp31.com/marybethwhalensresources.aspx
Get it now so you can start PLANNING to have a memorable, wonderful Christmas!

Karen Ehman's Weight Loss Wednesday

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:17:00 +0000

My friend Karen Ehman is doing a Weight Loss Wednesday feature on her blog and asked me to answer some questions about my weight loss journey. It's up today if you guys would like to read more about how I lost 30 pounds, going from a size 12/14 to a size 6/8 in just 3 months' time. It is possible! You can do it!

For a long time, I thought that those extra pounds were just part of having six children, that the weight was part of my sacrifice to bring them into the world. (I wore the martyr mantle well.) But that wasn't true at all. With commitment and determination and a LOT of God's help (My mom has named this diet the "Jesus help me diet." She's lost 40 pounds doing the same program I did. Go mom!!) I did lose the weight and I am SO glad I did. Check out Karen's interview with me here:

http://karenehman.com/home/2009/11/04/weight-loss-wednesday-with-my-friend-marybeth

Now to just muster up the determination to take the dieting plunge one more time and lose those last pesky 5-10 pounds... I guess we know what one of my goals for 2010 will be!

Is Blogging Making A Comeback?

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:00 +0000

I liked this post by Jennifer James (a fellow Disney Mom Blogger!).

http://jenniferjames.tumblr.com/post/230435682/good-blogging-is-making-a-comeback

I agree with her that blogging is making a comeback-- or could if those of us who blog are focused and intentional about our blogging efforts. I hope I do that here. I continue to balance the tightrope of social media-- Facebook and Twitter and blogging oh my! Not to mention my other writing-- books, devotions for P31, the occasional article. Oh, and blogging for She Reads and our financial blog too. Ack! What do I do first?

I try to make this blog my first priority-- I like Facebook and Twitter but I can't communicate there to the degree that I do here. Who I am and what I believe are best displayed in this format. I don't want blogs to die out because I am one who has benefitted greatly from women who have shared information, inspiration and ideas with me via their blogs. The community of blogging is still a powerful one. I intend to do my part to keep it a vital part of the social media landscape.

The Simple Woman's Daybook Monday November 2, 2009

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:07:00 +0000

Outside my window... the rain from yesterday has cleared but the cold has stayed. I keep hearing this is going to be one of our worst winters in terms of snow and cold. I am not into cold weather. I hope it's not true.

I am thinking... about our pastor's challenge to fast from complaining for 7 days. I did good until last night when I got home and my husband's car was blocking my way in the drive. I came in the house complaining and by the time I was done Curt informed me I owed "The Ugly Jar" $3. (We put in a dollar every time we complain.)

I am thankful for... the month of November-- a whole month to focus on thankfulness! (And not complaining.)

I am wearing... black track pants and a blue polar fleece New Balance sweatshirt, fuzzy blue socks. The height of style.

I am remembering... how great our weekend was. The Nester's yard sale on Saturday morning. (Didn't buy any cute decorating stuff but I did find a very cute apron with my initial monogrammed on it and some clothes for my 7yo boy.) A "Sweet Treat" cake decorating class for my girls followed by lunch that afternoon. A party at our church on Saturday night after the service. Writing at Barnes and Noble on Sunday followed by a movie with a friend.

I am going... to be working on plotting my next novel this week while my first one is with the editor. Also getting ready for Hearts at Home this coming weekend!

I am reading... After You by Julie Buxbaum, Stein On Writing by Sol Stein and Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser

I am hoping... to watch Castle tonight... if I can stay up that late. With the time change, 10 is really 11 and that is WAY past my bedtime! If not I can catch it on Hulu on Tuesday.

On my mind... my new novel. How can I say what I want to say through the characters' lives? How can I add layers so the story is not too linear and straightforward? I was writing with a friend who writes nonfiction yesterday and she kept shaking her head at me. She decided that fiction writing is too much work. She is probably right. But I have a compulsion to do it anyway.

From the learning rooms... time to reserve books at the library on Thanksgiving-- the traditions, the history, the attitude of gratefulness. These will make up our nightly read alouds.

Noticing that... I complain more when I am in the car than anywhere else. This morning my son reminded me that I am lucky to have a vehicle at all. Who teaches him this stuff? :) He also reminded me I owed the ugly jar a dollar.

Pondering these words... Happiness is a symptom of circumstances but joy is a product of perspective. God is still good, so I will be grateful. (Quote from my pastor's sermon this weekend.)

From the kitchen... baked potato soup for dinner tonight. Per several requests, the recipe is at the bottom of this post. We top ours with bacon bits or crumbled real bacon and shredded cheese.

Around the house... catching up from a weekend of being gone a lot. It was worth it.

One of my favorite things... books. Be sure and check out She Reads this week. We are announcing our new picks for winter!

Baked Potato Soup

2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 Tbsp. all purpose flour
1 lg onion chopped
1 can chicken broth plus 1 can of water
3 large potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup milk

Peel and cube potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside potatoes.
Melt butter in Dutch oven over low heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute. Stir in onion, cook for 2 minutes or until tender (should be translucent). Add chicken broth and water. Stir. Add cooked potatoes, salt and pepper. Stir in milk and cook until heated through and thickened.

(I double this recipe for our family. I use a whole bag of potatoes and it makes plenty but we need plenty because this is a soup my whole family goes back for seconds on!)

Scripture For Sunday

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:03:00 +0000

Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all Your deeds."

This verse breaks down into 3 parts that all speak to me:

1. It is good to be near God. Earlier in this same psalm, the psalmist describes how he messed up-- he had a bitter spirit and was senseless and ignorant. Anyone relate? He says he was "a brute beast" before God. Been there! And in the very next verse he says, YET (emphasis mine) he is always with God-- God holds his right hand. (Psalm 73:21-23) I love this picture-- no matter how we act, we show Him our worst, YET He is right there, sticking by us. He doesn't drop our hand and retreat from us. "It is good to be near God" has two meanings to me: 1) I need to spend time with Him, to be refueled by His presence and 2) He is near me even when I don't deserve it. Either way, it is good.

2. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge. Please see my devotion from last week about what it means to make the Lord your refuge. I need to have Him to run to because everything and everyone else will most assuredly fail me, but He never will.

3. I will tell of all Your deeds. How can I tell of all His deeds-- the ones I witness in the lives of others, the ones that happen directly to me, the ones I read about in the Word. I have chosen to tell through speaking and writing, but am I telling in my daily life, my one on one interactions? I need to keep telling of all His deeds and offering hope to those He brings into my life who need to hear about it. They need to know that He will do the same for them.

This one verse spoke volumes to me this morning. I intend to post it somewhere visible in my house (my dresser mirror, my bathroom mirror, my refrigerator) and meditate on these valuable truths all week long. Hope it ministers to someone else out there!

A Welcome Home Feeling

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Creating a welcome-home feeling is every woman’s challenge. As the makers of our home we want the hearts of our loved ones to feel hugged as they walk in the front door. We want the sights to be warm and cozy, the sounds to be calming and joyful, and the smells to be yummy. We want to create a comforting environment that will help melt away the stresses of the day.

Source of quote: http://www.sugarpiefarmhouse.com/

I am taking some time to go over some of my favorite homemaking blogs, getting inspired in this area as I confess I have let my creativity and love of home slip a bit in the frenzy of my novel edits. But on a cozy cool afternoon it's fun to sit and dream of ways to make home feel more "homey." So I sat and sipped Zen tea, scheming and dreaming of ways I can create that welcome home feeling this fall. After perusing blogs and soaking in "homeyness," I have come up with some things I intend to do starting now:

I put George Winston's "Autumn" cd on hold at the library and expect it to come in some time this week. (As I type this, I am listening to my George Winston station on Pandora. So soothing.) I plan to play it in the afternoons while the children work on homework, have their snacks, and play. With the cooler temperatures and the darkness coming on earlier in the day, their outdoor playtime is limited. I would also like to have it on in the evenings. I have a picture in my head of all of us gathered around a candlelit table with soothing music playing in the background. (FYI: the pictures in my head never match my reality but it's ever so nice to dream)
I bought a big canister of hot chocolate, several different kinds of teas, and some apple cider to offer the children in the afternoons after school or in the evenings. They absolutely love hot drinks most anytime. Cold mornings are great too! Some styrofoam cups enable them to take their hot drinks to go!
I am including a big pot of soup in our menu for each week-- white chili, regular chili, chicken tortilla soup, vegetable soup, and baked potato soup are all favorites at our house. Served with some crusty bread or homemade yeast rolls and we have a filling meal.
I have all of our fall decorations out thanks to my mom stopping by one day in the midst of my edits and making me stop long enough to drag everything out. I was SO glad I did it once it was done. She was a huge help and made the work go fast. It makes our house look so homey and brings a smile to my face.
Light candles more often. I like the soft glow they bring to a room, plus the scented ones make the house smell great! My favorite this time of year is "Autumn Leaves" by Yankee Candle. Last week at an event I won a set of two candles-- one banana bread scent and one green apple scent. I have these sitting out now and am reminding myself to use them up and quit saving them for special occasions and company. I want my family to know they are special, too and worth going the extra mile for!
Make desserts. My family absolutely loves when I make something for dessert. The funny thing is, I remember being a kid and being SO excited if I knew my mom had made dessert. Even if it was just instant pudding served in special cups, it felt out of the ordinary-- something to be savored. This week I have plans to make homemade vanilla custard in the crockpot and a chocolate cherry dessert for our small group, which meets tonight!
Keep the house clean and not just tidy. My house is always tidy (I am a bit OCD about keeping things put away.) but not always clean. I bought a new duster that has refills you can use and have been dusting more ever since I bought it. Dusting is one of those chores I don't think about til company comes and I notice in horror that you could write your name on the table they are sitting beside! I find that investing in some convenience-type housekeeping products like the duster really does help make cleaning easier, which means I will actually do it.

How do you create that welcome home feeling? I would love to hear what you are doing... or want to do (that counts too)!

And, speaking of homekeeping, I did a little sprucing up on my home here on the web. Can you find what's new? Some of you already have-- thanks for noticing and for your nice notes and comments!

Who Is David C Cook?

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:32:00 +0000

Welcome to all of you who stop by today after reading my devotion at P31! I am glad to have you here. I am in the midst of editing the novel I wrote that will come out in June... and running the new division of Proverbs 31-- a fiction book club for women called She Reads. Check it out at http://www.shereads.org/. Be sure to stop back by tomorrow to read my post on creating a home... the most important job I have!!

I found this blog post and cute video about the publisher for my novels and thought I would share it with you. I am proud to be a part of the David C Cook family and can't wait for my novel to come out this June! And another one the following June!! Phew!!

http://thetrenchesofmotherhood.blogspot.com/2009/10/i-like-books.html

Menu Plan Monday (By The Skin of My Teeth)

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:56:00 +0000

So, it's dark outside but it's still Monday so it still counts.

Here is a list of the meals I am planning to serve in the coming days. This will get us further than just this week. So I am not assigning days-- just have the list on my write on/wipe off board on the side of the fridge, ready and waiting.

Tonight we had spaghetti with meat sauce (which I started this afternoon and let simmer for hours), steamed broccoli and my daughter made the box mix Ghirardelli brownies which we ate warm with vanilla ice cream on top. I am still a bit sick feeling as I write this from all the feasting we did round the Whalen dinner table tonight.
Tomorrow night we are having crock pot ribs, baked potatoes and green beans. I am making a chocolate cherry dessert for our small group. Wednesday night is leftovers. And that's as far as I've gotten with the scheduling of the meals.

The rest of the meals I have planned for are listed below:

scrambled eggs, caramel apple coffee cake, hashbrowns, sausage (is it me or does that meal just beg to be served on a crisp fall night?)
turkey in the crockpot, oven sweet potato wedges, corn
baked potato soup with cheese and bacon toppings
chipotle london broil, rice pilaf, salad
shredded french dip sandwiches, french fries, fruit
grilled chicken and penne pasta toss, garlic monkey bread (recipe below)
barbecue chicken, black-eyed peas, macaroni and cheese

Here's the recipe for Garlic Monkey Bread:

1/2 C. butter, melted
1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 cans of refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
Preheat oven to 375. Combine butter, cheese and garlic powder. Cut biscuits into quarters, dip in butter mixture and layer in 13x9” pan. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Desserts I plan to make this week:
Vanilla custard in the crockpot
Chocolate chip cake
that chocolate cherry dessert I already mentioned

What's for dinner at your house? Need some more ideas and recipes? Check out http://www.orgjunkie.com/ to see other people's submissions to Menu Plan Monday!

Sensational Peppermint Pattie Brownies

marybeth6@gmail.com (Marybeth) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

I saw this recipe posted somewhere else and have bookmarked it to make sometime soon. We love Chocolate Peppermint anything so I am sure these will be a hit!

http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=4196&page=1&per=25