10 Tips for Biblical Womanhood

1~ Love God with a passion and show it. It should not be a mystery that you have a love relationship with God.

2~ Love your husband and show it. Encourage him and use your talents to help him be his best. A strong women is not described by how little she makes her husband look. A strong women is described by her ability to use what talents God has given her to make her family unit a success.

3~Make your home a priority. Work towards making home a haven for every family member. Keep the natural order of the family in focus God, husband (marriage) and then children.

4~Respect and consider your children. Encourage them to do and be their best. Raise them up to make God the primary focus of their lives.

5~Learn to communicate. Start by talking less and listening more.

6~Teach your children life principles such as integrity, money management, academic excellence, self confidence, self control and dependence on God.

7~Learn to do right--James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."

8~Be a friend.

9~Win your children's friends for Christ--encourage them to choose good friends and allow those friends to spend time with your family. (I Corinthians 15:33)

10~Learn wisdom--Pray and study scripture

Just Enough

I am not the kind of Home Maker that sits at home watching daytime television while the laundry goes undone. Dinner is always made and served around 5'ish, and the kitchen and common areas are spotless by 7'ish.

I am quite sure that it's the same way at your house or some similar resemblance of an organized home.

However in the midst of keeping my home running like a well oiled ship, I have noticed that some areas have fallen by the wayside.

One thing in particular that seems to often get placed on the back burner is ME.

Now, please don't jump to any conclusions. I am not about to advocate a girls weekend away at the spa for some pampering. Nor am I going to indulge in the idea of a week long woman's retreat to get me pumped up and back on track.

What I am talking about is something much simpler.

I have noticed that I haven't been going that extra mile in caring for myself as much as I normally would. Some days I am just TOO TIRED to wash my hair, put on make-up or shave my legs.

None of these things are done everyday, but if I am in a crunch for time or energy, I am quite sure that something from my pampering routine will be neglected.

Are these things going to place an emotional strain on my marriage? I quite sure they won't. I do however believe that once we stop doing something long enough, it becomes normal.

I don't desire for unshaven legs, disheveled hair and chipped nail polish to become the norm. Often something such as a week of caring for a sick child will throw me off of my beauty regimen. This is quite understandable. And so, I shaved my legs, applied my make-up, washed and styled my hair and put on my lotions and perfumes.

Guess what???...

He noticed!! My husband noticed...He is such a sweet man.

He rubbed my legs while we watched a movie and all of a sudden he asked, "Did you shave your legs?".

I answered "Yes", and he continued to stroke my smooth legs.

I am so looking forward to my beauty routine tomorrow.

You can read about my daily facial routine here.

Tour of my Home Making Binder

I wanted to make a video but still have not been able to get it to upload. I have instead created a pictorial tour of my HMB.

Section #1: Schedules

The first page of my coupon binder can be found here. I use both sheets found on page (2).

I slip the pages inside of a clear sheet protector and write on them with a dry erase marker. Each morning I date the sheet and begin filling in the days menu and home~keeping tasks.

The sheet has (3) section dedicated to Morning, Afternoon and Evening routines. There is space to write in the meals and boxes to check off the tasks as they are done. The thing that I love about this sheet is that it has the very same verse that I quote to myself and my children when we are having a tough morning.

Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

The sheets wipe off easily every night and is ready to be filled in the next morning.

The next sheet in my HMB is a calendar. I have a few throughout my binder. This one is the easiest to access.

The next page is my workout schedule at the YMCA. I have the monthly schedule and I've highlighted the classes that I'd take for each day.



Section #2: Home-Making



This is a reference guide of our daily tasks. It has everything listed here that needs to be done each day. This sheet was downloaded and edited using the Donna Young, Housework Document

Here is a closer view of the sheet. These are the basic tasks that should be completed each day. Things such as making beds, brushing teeth and tidying rooms. This sheet does not include community chores.

This sheet works especially good if I am not at home, my husband can just refer to this sheet to have a quick reference guide of my expectations.

Next I have the weekly at a glance schedule.

Here is a close up.

In the center of this form is our monthly home-making chores at a glance.

And just beneath are the quarterly tasks such as winterizing the lawn, washing the house sorting and donating clothes, etc.

Sometimes my children will forget that they are supposed to be working and not playing during chore time. I use the next few sheets with biblical reminders of the importance of diligent workers.

Here is one that teaches Godly attitude toward parents.

and here's one that promotes peace at home with family and siblings.

These can all be found at doorpost.com, however these sheets are no longer FREE. They do have a great sheet for mothers that is FREE and a Courtship Checklist if you are in that stage of life with your children.

The next page is a handwritten documentation of what I mean when I say "Go and do your kitchen chores". Everyone's standard is different as to what they consider as a job well done. I have written a specific out line of what a clean kitchen looks like according to mom's standard.

I wrote this sheet after hearing one too many "Well it looks clean to me" from my children.

Below is a handwritten checklist that the children can refer to anytime they'd like to go and play. If its a Saturday morning I'll ask "Did you do your morning chores?" . They can quickly refer to this page to answer the question as to whether or not they can play the X-box. If they see that they have not done a chore then they will go do the chore and then get permission to play.

Section #3: School

I keep awards, statewide test scores, report cards, weekly schedules and doctor's excuses in the section. I have a page with the contact info of all of the children's classmates and teachers. I have a school calendar in this section. I also have each of the children's class schedules in here. If I need to pick them up fro school I'll know exactly where they are supposed to be.

When I am homeschooling this section is used for my children's lesson plans/ I use page (2) of the fullpagedaily.

Section #4: Menu

There was a time when I would make menus every week. I began keeping those menus to use as a spring board for future menus. Whenever I am making my weekly menu I just refer back to old menus and pick meals from them. I have about 15 pages worth of meal ideas. Just like the one below.

In the front of my menu section is a Food Storage cheat sheet. I use this to determine the shelf life and freezer life of any food. I found this at Publix last year on the publication rack.

I write my weekly menu in here on a sheet protector and erase it at the end of the week.

I also keep a copy of the Hillbilly Housewife $45 Menu and the $75 menu in my binder just in case. Proverbs 31 states "she has no fear of the snow for her household is covered in scarlet".

I am very resourceful a have learned to hope for the best and plan for the worst.

Below is a daily kitchen work sheet that helps you to prepare the kitchen the day before for the following day. This sheet accompanies the menus above. I have used the same idea to stay on top of meals in my kitchen.

In the menu section you'll also find a pantry checklist.

This section helps me stay on top of activities the children are involved in at church.

The final section is for household rules and rule for living. Below is the fist from in the rules section. It covers a general outline for our lives according to the King James Bible.

I hope that you are able to grasp a general idea of how helpful a Home Making Binder can be to managing a home and family.


This post is proudly shared at Kelli's place.

Menu Plan Monday

This is my menu for the week which can be found in my Homemaking Binder.

Monday

Beef Stew with diced potatoes & carrots
Steamed rice
Corned Bread

Tuesday

Fried Pork Chops, Steamed Rice and Spinach

Wednesday

BBQ Meatloaf, Steamed Rice & Fried corn

Thursday

Chicken Enchiladas, Red beans and Rice

Friday

Tacos & Salad

Saturday

Sloppy Joes or Chicken Quesadillas

Sunday

Pork Tenderloin, steamed rice, gravy, green beans and cornbread

Enduring the Struggle

Job 2:10...Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

How do you react when life deals you an ugly hand? Do you pout? Do you blame others? How about God?...Do you find yourself asking God how could you do this TO ME?

How many times have we thought to ourselves...why do "I" have to go through this? Or why couldn't "I" do such and such? When we focus on ourselves in the midst of our struggles we lose site of the bigger picture. Focusing on "I" can mean the difference in us becoming bitter as a result of our circumstances instead of better.

We believe that we know what's best for us. We forget that His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways are ways (Isaiah 55:8).

So how should we respond to struggle in a way that brings Glory to the Lord. Let us look at Luke 22:41-43

"And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."

Jesus was drawn away from where he was and from who he was with- There will be some situations in which spouse, family, friends and neighbors won't be able to help.

Jesus kneeled down- Kneeling is an indication of humility and submission. Certain situations undeniable bring into perspective our limitations. Jesus demonstrated His respect and reverence for God's authority over His life by kneeling before Him.

Jesus prayed-Jesus wanted God to consider a Plan B of sorts. Jesus asked God to reconsider His plan, however Christ was confident that God had his best interest at heart. Jesus knew what God had told Jeremiah "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." When we rely on God's word we can pray knowing that He will answer. We can rest assured that God has a good plan for our lives even if it does not appear to be so during our struggle.

Knowing how God felt about him and what God desired for his future allowed Jesus to resign himself to God's plan even if He may not have completely wanted to endure it. Have you resigned yourself to God's plan for your life? Have you said to God in the midst of your struggle "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done"

Once Jesus surrendered to God's will concerning his fate, He received a supernatural strength. Supernatural strength can be described as "being enabled , endowed or equipped to achieve, endure or accomplish something that one would not have under any other circumstances be able to achieve, endure or accomplish." God gives us the power to overcome our situations and emerge victoriously.

This is the glory and power of God that is upon our lives. We don't have to be prisoners of circumstance. God has already made a way for us to escape. (I Cor. 101-13)

Summer Routine

As a mother of four children ranging in age from 5 to 15 years old, I find it beneficial to construct a daily schedule for my children. Having a written out daily routine gives the children direction, goals and responsibilities.

Morning Routine

Bathroom- This is mostly a reminder for my 5 year old.
Make Beds
Tidy Bedroom

BREAKFAST

Kitchen Chores
Hygiene- Brush teeth, Wash face, Groom hair, Moisturize skin

Family Devotional Time- Click Here for the Elementary Lessons I use. My 15 year old rotates between Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple" Bible Study Workbook and Heart Connex

Cartoons/Indoor Activities-~XBox, ~Card Games, ~Board Games, etc.

Outdoors (group activities)- YMCA, FREE Bowling, Backyard Play

(2) School Subject- Math & English (including Literature & Language Arts)
Monday-Spelling Words 5x's ea., Tuesday-Sentences, Wednesday- Reading Comprehension, Thursday-Reading Comprehension, Friday-Handwriting/Narrations

My children believe that summer should resemble one continuous day at Disney World, but in the real world Daddy still has to go to work and Mommy still needs to care for the home.


LUNCH

Weekly/Daily Jobs
Kitchen Chores

(1) School Subject- History

Free Reading
Quiet Time/Naps
Dinner Helpers
Outside

Having a daily routine helps keep the children busy doing productive things to help around the house. It allows me to incorporate their skills and talents into my daily routine.

DINNER

Kitchen Clean-up
Showers/Brush Teeth

Bible Reading- Proverbs/Psalms reading plan

T.V time- Wheel of Fortune & Jeopardy
Prayer
Bedtime 8:30 PM for younger children...9 PM for older children

A schedule allows me to carve out time to teach each child new skills and work with them to improve others. I am looking forward to a peaceful and productive summer.