Cherishing Home

Welcome to my little corner of the web. A space, I pray, is a blessing to you! It was almost 2 years ago that I started my weight loss journey and about 8 months ago, that we really transformed what we ate into "real food." I've been blogging on my Family blog for almost 5 years and decided that a dedicated space to food/home/life would be more appropriate as more people have begun to read.

a little about me...
The Lord saved me when I was in High School and I was married when I was 20 years old and I have been married for 8.5 years. I have two sweet children (both of whom were born prematurely, 30 weeks and 33 weeks) and have grown to be healthy and happy. My son is 5.5 and my daughter is 2.5 and I love staying home with them to care for them. I run a little business on the side but my primary focus is on my family, my home, and our wonderful church.

My desire for this blog is to be a place of encouragement, ideas, and thought provoking questions. To honor the Lord in all areas of living, primarily within the walls of our homes (with a little bit of fun addressing the decor of those walls too :) with the means that He gives to us.

I hope and pray you will enjoy this little niche in the blogosphere and that we all can grow and learn and bless one another.

xo
j

side note... you will notice that this isn't my first post. I imported all of my food posts from my family blog, so they can be easily referenced here.

whole food resources

Hey all!

Was just looking at some foodie books on my nightstand lately and wanted to share ...

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon
-This gem has been so so helpful. I've actually cooked a bunch from this and it seems super overwhelming because of its massive size, but most recipes are simple, easy and tasty! My fav loved the carrots vichey! And... I just bought grass fed beef liver to make one of the crazier recipes. Ah!! (Thank you Carly for the recommendation so many years ago ;)

La Cuisine de France: The Modern French Cookbook
Inspired to reconnect with Ian's family history... I want to do a Julie/Julia blog type thing. Mainly because my name is Julie, but also because it would be fun ;)

Real Food by Nina Planck 

-A down to earth perspective on the "why" behind eating naturally. Super easy to read and lots of scientific concepts in basic, understandable terms.

The Sprouted Kitchen by Sara Forte

This cookbook is by far the most beautiful. Gorgeous photos and a ton of variety in foods. Lots of veggie based dishes and over 100 recipes for all meals and snacks. 

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

I've mentioned this one before, but it is a handy reference guide too. A must read, I would say...

And.. some from my wish List:

tomorrow I've got a list of some good Bible books we have been enjoying too... 

have a blessed night!

working at home

Tuesdays are a unique day for me these days... I drop Cade off at school and take Reese to my in laws for the day. In a few weeks, my Tuesdays will be my Bible study days, but for now, I stay home. Therefore, it has become my clean-cook-prep day of the week. I am so thankful for these hours and they have proven beneficial for my family. However, I had some thoughts as I was changing the sheets in all three of our beds in our home... "again... I feel like I just did this. I am always doing the same things..."

At first, I let myself wallow a little. "Yes, you do! You deserve a break! Go relax!" ... but then, I started talking to myself and reasoning a little bit. "Yes, I just did this. Yes, I will have to do this many, many more times... but, this is part of the job description right?"

Think about it... someone who goes to school to be an accountant knows that they are preparing for a life of accounting. They know the accounting will be a constant part of their life and they are okay with that. They know that some seasons will be busier than others (end of the year, tax season, etc...). They know that every week they will be required to do projects, make up proposals, run reports. When these tasks come up every week, it is just what ya do, and you do them. Sure its not all rainbows and sunshine, but when it's your job, you just do it...

How often do I harbor resentment towards my calling as a woman? Its like... UGH again! I just washed that... I just scrubbed that... I just fixed that... and I am needed to do something more and my first temptation is to complain. However, if I view my life as a worker at home (which is what God calls ALL women to be... whether you are single, married, young, old, no outside job, or with an outside job...)... This is part of my job description and God is my Employer. He lays out the tasks for me. He gives me the husband and the kids to manage. He is the One who bestows gifts as stewardships and I will have to give an account at the end of my life as to whether or not I was faithful. 

Sure, the tasks are repetitive and gross at times, but if I see my life as an act of worship to God, the menial task are not only expected to be completed, but can be completed with joy. As a worker at home, I shouldn't be surprised when I have to:

-sweep the kitchen floor... again! I'm thankful I have the kids that eat their food and make messes

-wash the bedsheets and make the bed... again! I'm thankful that we have beds and that my kids sleep at night.

-clean the bathroom... again! I'm thankful we have a bathroom and that we have the money to pay the sewer bill!

-cook dinner... again! I have the privilege of nourishing my family. God has given me a lot of options as to what we should eat and I get to choose them and take time to lovingly cook something for them. I'm thankful for the money to purchase the food and that there are so many places to easily find food.

-pick up the mess in the living room... again! I'm thankful we have toys that they play with. I'm thankful for their budding imagination. I know that when I pick up, it is a blessing to Ian who prefers a nice and tidy home.
-weed the garden... again! I'm thankful for the lovely flowers I don't deserve. Thankful that if I am faithful to take care of the garden, a bountiful harvest will follow (hopefully :).
-iron... again! Ah ironing... but I'm thankful for the job my husband has been given. Thankful that I can serve him by freeing him up to do other things than iron his own clothes. Considering his needs more important than my own...

Yes, these tasks will be a weekly, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly thing... but you know, it's part of the job description, so I can either whine and complain about it... or work heartily as unto the Lord and reap the benefits of faithfulness. I mean, someone has to clean the house. Someone has to cook. Someone has to bring food home from the store. Someone has to wash the clothes... And... in my case, God has allowed me to stay home. Not to do whatever I want, whenever I want, but to serve... just like my Lord. 

Seriously, you know the feeling of how nice it is to crash in bed at night knowing you have freshly washed sheets on your bed and the kitchen is clean... common grace.

It's all a matter of perspective and when we see our daily tasks as given to us by a loving and kind God, it helps us see that these things can be a means of blessing to our family and a great method of daily worship to God.

Blessings,

j