January–The Month of the Kitchen

  In thinking about the new year, I decided against setting any resolutions.  I am really of the opinion that making something official causes me to avoid it more.  For example, when I endeavor to lose weight, I really like to just kind of ease into it by gradually changing my habits rather than going on an official diet.  It seems to work better for me.  For this reason, I have decided to take each month to focus on making one room or area in my home better instead of tackling the whole house at once.  Because the kitchen is my favorite room in the house and because I spend a great deal of my time in it, I have declared January the Month of the Kitchen.

Here are some of the things I hope to accomplish in my kitchen this month:

• Clean my oven.  I’m embarrassed by how dirty I’ve let it get.  This is a task I do not enjoy or look forward to, so I must commit to doing this sometime this month.  Done!  1/3/08
• Clean the top of my stove, the eyes, and the drip pans.  Done!  1/8/08
• Clean out my gadget drawer and organize it.  Read more about this here.
• Clean out the drawer where I keep my knives and get rid of most of them.  We bought a cheap set of knives at Wal-Mart a few years ago, and they are of very poor quality.  I never use them, so I want to get rid of them.
• Organize my snack cabinet.  Read more about this here also.   Done!  1/7/08
• Make curtains for my kitchen.  I’ve purchased the fabric already, so all I need to do is buy some trim and get my mother to help me.
• Put the finishing touches on the cabinet we bought right after Christmas.  I want it to be a decorative focal point in my kitchen, but I need to find or buy a few more decorative things to put on it. 

I’m sure I’ll think of more to add to this list, but that’s it for now.  Of course, this is in addition to trying to keep up the rest of the house.  I try not to undertake too big of a project at a time!  Steady Eddie and I already spent almost two days working in the kitchen cleaning out and reorganizing some of my cookware and the food.  I am looking forward to a made-over kitchen at the end of January!

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Daily Scripture Share

One thing I wanted to do in this new year is share a few verses each day (hopefully!) that are meaningful to me for that day.  This month I have decided to read through Proverbs by reading a chapter each day on the corresponding day of the month.  Since Proverbs has thirty-one chapters, this works out nicely for most months.  Here is the passage God spoke to me through today:

6. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.  7.  He hides away sound and Godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity.  8.  That He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.  Proverbs 2:  6-8 Amplified

Thank you, Lord, that you delight in giving Wisdom to your children!  Thank you, Lord, that you protect and preserve those who serve you!  Amen.

Works for Me Wednesday–Christmas light organization and storage

 This Works for Me Wednesday tip is one I read somewhere; I cannot take credit for it.  However, since I can’t remember where I read it (probably on someone else’s blog), I’m just going to pass it along to you.  If you know who came up with it, by all means, let me know so I can give that smart person credit!  : )

After you take down your Christmas lights, instead of buying one of those light organizing gadgets or just wadding them up to put them into storage, wrap them around a child’s clothes hanger!  The hanger should be one of those designed to hold a complete outfit.  Use the little slots at the shoulders to hold the ends of the strand of lights.  Then, hang them in the closet until next year!  This is the first year we’ve done this, and so far, it really seems like a great idea.

 

For more Works-for-Me-Wednesday hints, visit Shannon’s blog!