What's Really Important

It's been an interesting month in the Whitwer house. Christmas 2007 will go down in our family history books as the holiday of simplicity. And I mean really simple.

I wonder if anyone else has ever gotten to the end of their time and energy, when you figure that not one more thing can be done. I've got boxes of Christmas decorations that are still in a closet. My Christmas cards (bought last year on sale) are waiting on the counter. I've got unmade cookies, unplanned parties, and unseen neighborhood light displays. It's been one of those months - or more accurate to say - one of those years.

In moments throughout my day I look at what I haven't done, and feel like a Christmas failure. After all, some women manage to get everything done, and look good doing it. Why can't I?

But then God reminds me of what I have done:
I have run a home-based business that cares for the needs of my family.
I have supported my husband so he can run his business.
I have attended every holiday concert and sports event this month that my kids have been in (and wrestling meets last for hours).
I have cared for the needs of five children (two of whom need hours of work each day in academics).
I have loved Jesus with all my heart.

No magazine will take pictures of my house this year. Martha Stewart won't want to know my secret for amazing home-made gifts. And I hope my friends and family will forgive me for not sending out Christmas cards for the second year in a row.

Maybe this Christmas is my year to just get down to the nitty-gritty of what's really important. What's really important this time of year is to remember that God sent Jesus as our Savior and He is our only hope in this world for peace and life. And He's our only comfort when we feel like we just can't get it together.

If you feel like a Christmas failure, then come rest in the arms of Jesus for awhile, and be reminded of what's really important.

Merry Christmas!

In His Love,

Glynnis

P.S. After getting over the flu myself, I did manage to make one more dinner that my family loved! It's the easiest recipe ever, called Chicken Roll-ups. Here's the link: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1639,147162-239200,00.html

P.S.S. We'll be leaving on a family vacation tomorrow for one week. When I resume posting in January, I'll be starting a series on organizing our workplaces. Please join me then.

A Day of Joyful Sacrifice

I'd like to start today's post by welcoming all new visitors who found their way here from my friend Lysa's blog. I can't wait to bless someone with some beautiful file folders and a copy of my book work@home: A Practical Guide for Woman Who Want to Work From Home. To look at the file folder options, go to my other website: http://www.roselanecottage.com/ and click on "Cottage Office" then click on any of the three tabs that include file folder sets.

This website is something my husband and I started from scratch when he decided to start working from home. Next year, we've decided to expand our decorative office products. After I go to Atlanta in January for the HUGE home and gift market, we'll start adding new products.

If you are losing the battle to keep your work place or home office organized, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to my blog during the month of January for a series on organizing your work space. We'll take a look at lots of affordable ways to bring beauty, inspiration AND order to the place where many of spend hours a day.

I love Lysa's holiday give-a-way idea. Most women I know give and give during this season, and deserve something special! Please post on Lysa's blog today to get a jump start on your beautiful office organization.

On to my thoughts for today ...

Yesterday was a day of joyful sacrifice. I say sacrifice because the plans I had for the day were given up for others. I didn't get any Christmas cards addresses, presents wrapped, menus planned for the week or any of the other things I intended to do. Those are all things I love to do, and fit in with my heart for honoring the Sabbath.

Instead, after church (we attend at 8:30) my oldest daughter looked at me with pleading eyes, and said "Please mommy, call the hair place today." Cathrine is 12 years old, but is more like a 7 or 8 year old. She's from Liberia, Africa and came to America when she was 10. Cathrine can single-handedly cook a meal, tackle a cleaning project better than me, and can save a soccer ball from going out of bounds and look like a pro doing it. But because of her extreme deprivation in education, nutrition and exposure to basic concepts that we take for granted, Cathrine is challenged in language and education. Also, she also can't stand to be noticed by her classmates. So Cathrine doesn't want to go to school looking any different than she did the day before. Which leads to the challenge of getting her hair done.

Let me back up and say, when we adopted our daughters, the most challenging aspect wasn't their lack of education, it wasn't the cultural differences, it wasn't that they were two girls entering a home of all boys (although that was the 2nd hardest thing) - it was a white momma trying to care for beautiful black hair. My two little sweethearts gave me soooo much grace. And I can't tell you how many caring women stopped me at Walmart or track meets to slip me the name and number of someone who "can help you with their hair."

We finally decided it was worth every penny to get it braided professionally. And since my daughters had never had long hair, we put in extensions.

But getting the hair ready to be braided is a process which I am slowly learning. I learned I had to take OUT the old braid BEFORE bringing the girls in for new braids. I learned this the hard way by going to our appointment and having every face in the salon stare at me in shock and the owner say in front of everyone, "Did you want US to take out their braids?" Can you say, "Awkward"?

Then I learned I'm supposed to relax their hair before taking them in. Then I learned I'm not supposed to relax their hair on the SAME day they put in new braids. I guess these are all things black women know from experience. They just don't know how clueless I am. But everyone is kind while they correct me.

So getting Cathrine's hair re-braided is a process. And since she doesn't want to go to school without her braids (everyone will look at her), she wanted to get it done in one day. But I kept putting it off, because it's such a hassle. In fact, I kept giving Cathrine excuses and suggestions ... we're so busy, how can I do it in one day?, maybe you'll just have to go to school with it straight (which brought on tears because of the stares she knew she would get).

But it needed to be done, and Cathrine's sad face broke my heart. Even when I called the salon, I was sure they'd say no. So here's how the conversation went:

Hi Gail, it's Glynnis (She knows who I am now, since I kind of stand out among her clients).
Hi Glynnnis
Gail, I need to get Cathrine's hair braided, but I bet you are pretty busy today. (pause - hoping for agreement) Is there any way I can bring her in?
How about 11:30?
Hmmm ... I'm not sure I can get her ready that soon. (it was 10:30 and I still had to take out her braids and relax the hair)
How about 12:00?

Oh the rejoicing that happened in the Whitwer household. Then an explosion of activity occurred while her sister Ruth and I flew into action to remove the braids. Even Robbie got drafted into unbraiding. We got it done in a record 40 minutes (it's taken us hours before), another 30 minutes to relax it and we made it to the appointment only 5 minutes late.

Then 5-1/2 hours later, Cathrine emerged looking like a rock star! It didn't actually take that long, but they gave her a break in the middle while they worked on other clients.

At the end of the day Christmas cards were still in their boxes, the week's menu was unmade, and presents were still in bags on the floor of my closet. But my daughter was gloriously happy.

And I went to bed with a smile on my face.

In His Love,
Glynnis

Here's my beautiful daughter this morning before school.

Not one, not two, but three answered prayers!

At 6:30 p.m. last evening I stood in front of 80 excited children. I asked them: "Who is nervous?" About half of their hands shot in the air. "Who is excited?" I followed with. All of their hands waved back at me. In 30 minutes we would be walking on stage to perform "The Christmas Star."

I knew the auditorium was packed, and the kids knew it too. I had just returned from sneaking over to make sure my director's place was in order. While there I saw hundreds of people flowing in to see the children's production. Lots of parents, siblings, cousins, neighbors, teachers, friends and grandparents gathered to celebrate months of work.

They just thought they were coming to see some cute kids, hee, hee, hee. Little did they know God had other plans. God planned on planting some seeds that night.

It was a great day. I was hoping for one answered prayer, but got three!

1) Those distracted little faces were glued to mine. I saw some kids I'd never seen before because they hadn't looked at me since September. :-) And because they watched me, they didn't miss one cue! Well, maybe just one. When a darling little girl in the front row somehow missed that everyone else was standing and singing but her. She did catch up after a few lines.

2) Then, I'd been praying I wouldn't get sick before the play as one-by-one of my family members dropped like sick little flies. And I didn't! But maybe I should have asked for just a bit more (such as not to get sick at all) because I woke up today with a sore stomach. I haven't gotten quite as sick as everyone else, and I'm thanking God for that mercy.

3) Finally, the joy of the Lord was overflowing in that auditorium last night. Oh. My. Goodness! Those kids had fun praising God and singing about the true star of Christmas - Jesus. I could sense it in my heart and could hear it in the eruptions of laughter coming from the audience. Then it ricocheted off the audience and back to the children, in a grand recycling of joy!

Well, the annual Vineyard children's Christmas musical is in the books. But I feel as if Christmas has just begun for me. I needed that touch of joy in the midst of my busy schedule.

I pray you find something that brings you joy in the next few weeks before Christmas. You might even need to find a children's Christmas program - even if you don't know any of the kids performing. It might be just the answer to your prayers for a joy-filled Christmas.

In His Love,

Glynnis

One Miracle of Christmas

Better to have a plan and have it fall apart, than to have no plan at all!

That's a philosophical way of saying my wonderful weekly menu has been set aside due to two surprise events: 1) The thawed out salmon for last night's dinner was bad 2) An unwelcome visitor came to our home called the flu bug. Seems no one wants to eat much anyway. So we'll push back the menu and keep trying.

On to a much more important topic. For the past three months I've been busy every Sunday afternoon with 80 children. Not my own (although my five can sound like a herd of 80 somethings). But with 80 beautiful children at church. And tonight is the fulfilment of all our hard work and prayers: The Christmas Musical!!!

A few years ago I volunteered to be the music director for the children's play. Not that I know a thing about directing, but I did sing in choruses for years. So I figured all I needed to do was wave my hands in front of them and we'd be good. The first year turned out okay and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. So I stayed on each year. I also stayed because we have a fantastic program director in Shelia Keiser!

And each year, just before the performance, I feel the exact same way (panicked), and say the same thing in a desperate prayer: Lord, if this is the season of miracles, and I know it is, then can You please find it in Your heart to grant us one tonight!

You see, every year we get to this point and I watch little faces looking everywhere but at me, I hear little voices singing the wrong words, I watch dancers tripping over each other and I wonder how we are going to pull this thing off.

But then something amazing happens on the night of the performance. God does work a miracle. It's not that the kids suddenly remember the words to the songs, or that they come in at the right time when I wave my hands around. It's not that the actors remember their lines, or the dancers are in sync. That sometimes happens, but more often it doesn't.

No, a miracle happens because 80 precious childlike hearts offer their best to Jesus ... and when that happens, God's showers His pleasure on those children. Then that pleasure overflows to all of us who have been blessed to be a part of the program and all those in the audience watching. The joy we all feel is truly miraculous.

From an outsider's perspective, the best that each child offers tonight isn't what the world might consider "best." Those watching the program will see many one who fidgets, one whose autism makes it hard for him to fit in with the group, one who will sing off-key, one who will miss his cue, one whose language challenges made it impossible for her to memorize half the words (that would be one of my little daughters from Africa).

Oh, but that's not what the Lord sees. I think He must look right past all that outside covering and go straight for the good stuff - what's in their hearts. And then He gets a glimpse of the childlike faith that must delight Him to no end.

So tonight I'm expecting a miracle - but not the one I asked for. I'm expecting a miracle of Christmas joy that's going to overflow from the heart of God and those 80 children, across the stage, down the stairs and into my heart! And my revised prayer is that same joy enters the hearts of all those in the audience and they can't help but fall in love with the same God who caused it.

With Christmas joy,

Glynnis

Sitting in the Middle of the Mess

I tend to consider myself a "Martha" type personality. And I don't mean Martha Stewart. By now, that Martha probably had her hand-made cards mailed out, 10 batches of candy made and gift wrapped and her entire home decorated.

No, I'm nothing like Martha Stewart. In fact, this year I haven't even managed to decorate the tree. It's up and, because it's pre-lit, it has lights. It does have some gifts under it, because my dear children kept looking at me with those big hopeful eyes, asking when I was going to wrap SOMETHING. But that's it.

This is the end of one of the most stressful years of my life. I'm thankful that nothing devastating has happened to my family. But the demands on my time have exceeded my actual available time. When that happens, I get behind ... on everything. And so I spend lots of time just trying to keep my head above water. Back to Martha.

For those of you who know the Luke 10 story of Martha and her sister Mary, that's the Martha I'm talking about. And it's not a flattering comparison. This Martha had the privilege of hostessing for Jesus. Jesus actually came to her house. Instead of sitting at His feet, like her sister Mary did. Martha worked and actually complained to Jesus that Mary wasn't helping her enough.

Jesus gently chides Martha, and affirms Mary's choice to sit and spend time with Him. In the middle of all the work that had to be done.

So yesterday, I decided to sit in the middle of my mess and spend time with Jesus.

Normally, I feel as if everything has to be clean before I can "treat" myself to some down time. I believe I have to have the dishes clean, counters cleared, urgent emails addressed, laundry going, home-based business checked for orders, etc. By the time I've done all that, something else has demanded my attention, and my time with Jesus is neglected - much like what happened to Martha.

But not yesterday. I sat at the kitchen table and looked at my mess. It was big. There were papers strewn over every surface, a lunch box left on the counter from the day before, breakfast dishes everywhere, jackets from yesterday, blankets that had been left on the couch, dog fur forming balls, and the list went on. I had to fight my instinct to get up. And I won.

I sat in the middle of my mess, and spent time with Jesus. I pictured Him sitting across the table from me. It was pure pleasure ... and the mess amazingly faded from my view. My stress melted away, and I felt renewed.

This Christmas, whether you've gotten your house decorated or not, whether you've mailed out cards or not ... Jesus has come to your house for a visit. Will you choose to sit in the middle of your mess, of will you miss His visit?

In His Amazing Love,

Glynnis

P.S. Last night we had an amazingly simple and delicious dinner. I made Balsamic BBQ sauce and put it over salmon, which we grilled. The egg rolls were a great complement to it, and I sauteed sliced zucchini in olive oil and sea salt. Here's the Balsamic BBQ sauce recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_36958,00.html

Five Day Forecast - Yummy and Warm

I fully intended to post my week's menu last night but two things happened to redirect my plans. First, son #3 came home from school "reminding" me about his band concert last night. How could that be? It was supposed to be on Tuesday ... at least that's what I wrote on the calendar. Good thing nothing else was planned.

Then after the wonderful holiday concert, that same son pulled at my arm as I chatted with friends after the concert, saying we needed to go "NOW." We raced home just in time for the 24 hour flu bug to hit with vengeance. After being awake most of the night, and sleeping most of the day, he's feeling great. I, on the other hand, have enjoyed most of the last 24+ hours awake.

So, here's what I've got planned for the week:

Tuesday - The leftover vegetable beef soup I just discovered had been put in the outside refrigerator. We'll have cheese crisps as a side dish.

Wednesday - Grilled Salmon with Balsalmic BBQ Sauce, the egg rolls I forgot to serve with last week's Moo Shu Pork, along with grilled zuchinni.

Thursday - Smoked Salmon on Bagels with veggie cream cheese, fruit salad

Friday - Monterey Chicken (included green chilis and Monterey Jack Cheese, stuffed in a chicken breast, then rolled in parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and cumin, then drizzled with butter and baked) I'll include the recipe on Friday.

Saturday - Grilled Halibut, the Lady's Cheesy Mac (THE best macaroni and cheese you have ever eaten) some veggie

Sunday - Mexican Chicken Rollups

I'll offer a review each evening and include the recipes when needed.

Have a great day!

Glynnis

Menu Planning Tips

Hi friends,

Today I'll be creating my family's menu for the rest of the week. I thought I would start off by sharing a few of my menu planning tips.

We probably all have heard that creating a menu is one way to save time and money. But it's also a way to reduce stress. When I get my act together and actually put together a menu for the week, it makes everyone happy. I put it on the fridge, and the kids who can read love to see what's coming up. Since I love to eat, it makes me happy too.

So here are the tips I use to create a healthy, creative menue for the week:

1) Start by being hungry. I know, I know ... you've always heard not to go shopping while hungry, but menu planning isn't the same. Here's what happens if I try and plan a week's worth of meals AFTER dinner: I'm full, I'm tired of cooking and NOTHING sounds good. So, I sit down when I'm hungry and everything sounds like fun to cook and good to eat.

2) Invest in some cookbooks with photos. Only experienced cooks can visualize a recipe without a photo. If you struggle with knowing what to cook, a photo can be a real help. Here's my philosophy on buying cook books: If it saves me from going out to eat 1 time, it's paid for itself. Check them out from the library if purchasing them not an option for you.

3) Pick up take-out menus from your favorite restaurants. They have great ideas!

4) Find some favorite websites. Here are a few of mine:
* www.foodnetwork.com
* www.cooks.com
* www.recipes.robbiehaf.com/ This is run by a woman who creates copycat recipes of favorite restaurant foods.

5) Once you've found some good recipes, then schedule them throughout your week. Keep in mind afternoon and evening activities. For a busy night, try a crockpot chili recipe, and keep crackers and sliced apples and cheese in the fridge.

6) Here's my most important, and final tip: When you find a recipe you like, write down on your menu the exact place you found it. I can't tell you the number of times I've forgotten which recipe book I used, or if it was on a website. To organize your internet-found recipes, create a favorite's folder for each week or month, and bookmark the recipe in that folder.

Well, those are some things that help me out. Now it's time to get busy for my own family.

As for dinners this weekend, Josh and I enjoyed some favorite takeout food, a trip to Mimi's Cafe and our favorite fajitas from the restaurant of the same name. Amazingly, we spent less than if our whole family had gone out for dinner once.

Then for dinner last night, I bought some Stauffer's meatloaf, and used up some frozen corn, and half a bag of potatoes that were ready to go bad in the pantry. It was a very busy afternoon with Christmas play practice, a groundbreaking for our new church building and then a church leadership meeting after that.

I hope your day is wonderful.

In His Love,
Glynnis

Update on our dinners

I'm so happy with my refrigerator clean out campaign. Here's an update on what we've enjoyed this week.



On Tuesday I made the Moo Shu Chicken only I decided to use up the leftover pork chops. This was an unbelievable hit with my family. Here's the recipe: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/poultryreceo/r/mooshuchicken.htm

Even though the pork was already cooked, I still made the marinade and soaked the pork in it.



The best part of this dish is the hoisin sauce, so make sure you include that.



Tuesday night was an example of going two steps forward and one step back. I bought three boxes of egg rolls to go with the moo shu, and forgot I had them in the freezer.



Yes, that's my life. I keep trying though!



The next night was soup by one of my favorite cooks: Paula Dean. There is nothing like a big pot of Vegetable Beef soup on a cold day to warm everyone up. This soup took quite a bit of ingredients, and I didn't have a few of them in my cupboards. But it still tasted great. I made Bisquick biscuits and we ate half the apple butter. Yummo! (as one of my other favorite cooks says)



Veg. Beef soup recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_29692,00.html



Finally I used up the green chilis in an Enchilada Pie recipe on Thursday. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_34309,00.html



This was just OK. I'm sorry, but putting mushroom soup in anything Mexican just seems wrong to me. Call it a moment of sanity that I even tried it! I should have known better. In the future I'll be truer to my Southwestern heritage!



I get to take off a few days from cooking. First, I get to speak tonight on "The Perfect Gift" and will enjoy dinner with my soon-to-be friends at the Vineyard church in Mesa, Arizona.



Earlier today everyone but my son Josh and I took off to California for a Pop Warner football game (Go Boilers!). So Josh and I are going to eat out a few times this weekend. It's much cheaper with two people than seven!



Love,

Glynnis

Cool Christmas Giveaway!

My friend Lysa TerKeurst is hosting a great contest this month and I've donated something special to help get your office organized. Visit Lysa's blog for more information and watch mine for more explanation.

Monday Dinner

We are a few days into my refrigerator clean-out campaign and it's going very well. Tonight we had grilled pork chops that had been seasoned with a free seasoning from the grocery store. I used up the last two boxes of spinach with a creamed spinach recipe by Emeril Lagassi. Here's a link for that recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=15863

We had the best smoked salmon dip at Thanksgiving and had some leftover. So I put it on Ritz crackers and that was our "starch."

Using up items that have been in the freezer and fridge for awhile is a satisfying feeling. Tomorrow night I'll be trying Moo Shu chicken and use up some of the Chinese seasonings I've got. I bought some frozen egg rolls, and we'll be using "light thin tortillas" as our moo shu wraps.

Happy Cooking!

Glynnis

Saturday night dinner

The quiche was a great success last night, and two of us even got some for breakfast this morning. However, there was no salad, so there are still 11 bottles of dressing waiting to be enjoyed.

After a successful morning at a wrestling meet (with our son Dylan winning all three matches in his weight class and coming in first place) I have time this afternoon to plan a nice Saturday evening meal.

So tonight I'm going to use up some of the fish and pesto with a recipe I found on Foodnetwork's website called Brioche and Pesto Crusted Halibut. I'll keep the side dish simple with baked potatoes and will make a tossed salad, using up some of the gorgonzola cheese as well as the dressings.

Here's a link to the recipe on Foodnetwork: http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_34737,00.html

Today is also the day I'll plan our menus for the week. I think I see some Chinese food in our future!

Hope you are having a wonderful day!

In His Love,
Glynnis