10 P's of Time Management

Dr. Murray posted on his blog today the 10 P's of Time Management.  I would highly suggest you check them out {HERE}, because I found them to be convicting and helpful.  I hope they help you as well!

1. Peace
2. Plan
3. Prioritize
4. Pick
5. Perform
6. Pace
7. Purge
8. Protect
9. Pause
10. Pray

Menu Plan March 27- April 2, 2011

Monday:

Chicken Wraps

Tuesday:

Spaghetti

Wednesday:

Breaded Chicken

Potatoes

Green Beans

Thursday:

Guests at the Scholten House!
Thank You for the invite!

Friday:

Out with Friends!

Saturday:

Sloppy Joe
Cold Veggies

A Warm March

We were surprised to see that it was 65 degrees at our house just a few days ago at 10:30pm!  I thought I would share with you the warmth and sudden disappearance of snow with only a couple little spots left where there were piles of snow from being shoveled off the deck.

Hope you all enjoy the thought of warm weather.  Even now we are experiencing freezing rain and cold winds, etc.  I am very much looking forward to that warmer weather again!  Next time, hopefully it will stay!

Menu Plan March 21-26, 2011

Monday:

Chicken & Broccoli Stir fry

Tuesday:

Spaghetti

Wednesday:

Sausage

Mashed Potatoes

Corn

Thursday:

Leftovers

Friday:

Leaving for Canada,
so... dinner will be on the fly!

Saturday:

Dinner at Mom & Dad Bergsma's!

Better Way Imports

WOW!! All I can say is the information that I received at a Better Way Imports Party was sad and overwhelming!  I will just give you a few snippets of info that was given and you can find the rest on their website: www.betterwayimports.com

Human trafficking is now the 2nd most profitable criminal activity in the world.  Men, women, and children are sold everyday.

• 27 Million people are slaves
• 70% if them are in the commercial sexual exploitation industry
• One million women and children are sold into the sex trade every year.  800,000 are trafficked to other countries.  400,000 are under the age of 18.
• The average age of a prostitute is 12
• Every minute 2 children are sexually exploited for money
• The sex industry grosses %57 billion annually
• Michigan is the 13th worst state in the USA for commercial sexual exploitation of minors.  Michigan is ranked number 3 for registered sex offenders.
• The most common deaths among sexually exploited people are murder, suicide, drug overdose, and HIV/AIDS.

What is Better Way Imports trying to do about this?
Better way is selling products that are made by girls who were rescued from the sex trafficking industry.  Here is a list of the different areas around the world that Better Way Imports is getting their supplies from.

• Radiant Hope: Based in a safe house located in an undisclosed city in the Middle East, Radiant Hope is transforming lives every day.  The women who have found this hope sit together in a circle crafting beautiful jewelry.  They share their pain, their joys, and their healing.
• Freeset: Located in the largest red light district in Kolkata (formally Calcutta), Freeset is transforming a whole neighborhood.  Women make bags and t-shirts, receive a fair wage, benefits, and education.  Once illiterate they now are educated, helping them break the generational cycle of forced prostitution.
• Sari Bari: Also located in India, Sari Bari makes beautiful scarves, totes, and blankets.  Using recycled saris, the ladies patch up the worn places and, while stitching by hand, they restore the material to its original beauty.
• Hagar Designs: In Cambodia, where human trafficking is especially prevalent, Hagar Designs is transforming lives.  The ladies make lovely silk purses and bags made from recycled rice bags.
• Abba House: Rustic, simple, and attractive, Abba House jewelry is also transforming.  Necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are made and sold in order to rehabilitate women and children living in the after effects of sex trafficking in Thailand.
• Artisan's Lane: Women rescued from the sex trade in Turkey make these whimsical and unique cards for all occasions.  A traditional Turkish needle point technique is used to adorn these cards.
• International Princess Project: Beautiful, trendy pajama pants are offered by this restorative company.  They are available in a variety of materials and sizes.

What can we do to help stop this?

• Pray!
• Host an Awareness Event and Sale in your home, church, school, place of business, etc.
• Become a Freedom Fighter
• Learn More!  Read books, watch documentaries, check out websites, etc

Check out their website and see what it is all about.  Not everything that is shared in a small group setting is available to be published on their website, so it is definitely worth going to an event to just even hear about that is going on and educate yourself about it.  I myself new somewhat that 3rd world countries do some of this, but it was a definite eye opener to me when I learned about everything that is going on right here in Michigan and especially in Grand Rapids!  It is very, very scary!

Twenty-Eight! - (updated)

I just wanted to wish my wonderful husband a Happy Birthday today!

Hoping to have a nice dinner waiting for him when he gets home from work, a couple gifts and dessert!  I will add a picture of the dessert later.  :)

Here is Andrew's Birthday Dessert!!
Mackinaw Chocolate Fudge Cake!

Menu Plan March 14-19, 2011

Monday:

Baked Macaroni 'n Cheese
Sausages

Tuesday:

Lasagna Skillet Dinner

Wednesday:

Chicken

Sour Cream 'n Chives Mashed Potatoes

Green Beans

Thursday:

Leftovers

Friday:

Dinner Guests at Friend's House

Saturday:

Sloppy Joe

Making Time for the Important

Making Time for the Important
by Dr. Gary Chapman


Could it be that God did not understand how busy we were going be? Otherwise he would have made the day longer than twenty-four hours. Or is it that we are trying to do more than he ever intended us to do?

As I read the Gospels, I see Jesus active but not hurried, accomplishing good but not appearing to be busy. I keep having the recurring thought that maybe he marched to the beat of a different drummer.

Is it possible that we have been influenced more by our culture than by Christ and have we substituted activity for accomplishment?

There was a day when people had time to visit one another; when families had time to eat meals together; when families sat together in church; and when friends died, people had time to go to the funeral. Of course, that was before we had so many "time savers." What have we done with all the time we saved? Join us this week as we talk about making time for the important. Or have we forgotten what is important?

As Christians, we know that life's ultimate meaning is to be found in relationships: first, a relationship with God, and second, with people.

On the human level, the marriage relationship is designed by God to be the most intimate, with the parent-child relationship a close second. Yet some of us are pursuing activities that have little to do with building marriage and family relationships. From time to time we have pangs of guilt, but evidently not strongly enough to stop the merry-go-round and get off.

Have you heard people say, "I know that I ought to...but I just don't have time"? Is it true that don't have time to do what we ought to do?

The word ought means to be bound by moral law, conscience, or a sense of duty. If we are not accomplishing our "oughts", then we need to examine our use of time. Ultimately, we can control the use of our time. We can accomplish our goals for marriage and family.

Making time for the important means that we must say "No" to things of lesser importance. Do you need to sit down and take a fresh look at how you are using your time? Then do it today.
 

Article written by Dr. Gary Chapman. Based on the book, Now You're Speaking My Language (formerly, Covenant Marriage) by Dr. Gary Chapman. Published by Moody Publishing. For a complete listing of Dr. Chapman's books and resources, click here.

New Job!

Remember when I posted HERE about job interviews for Andrew? Well.... that interview didn't end up turning into anything but God came through with a different idea in mind.

Friday he received a call for a position available that needed someone to start this week Monday!  How can anyone beat that!!  It is position that needed someone who was detail oriented as a test engineer.  Well, if any of you know Andrew well enough, you know that he is VERY detail oriented.  He is excited about this new job and hoping that this is something that he can stay at for a while with good potential for advancing in the future.

Menu March 7- 12, 2011

Monday:
Lasagna

Tuesday:

Chicken
Potatoes
Veggies

Wednesday:

Veggie Soup
Buns

Thursday:

Leftovers

Friday:

Dinner at a Friend's House

Saturday:

Pizza

Turkey Penne Casserole

This has become a favorite in our house and Andrew proudly made it by himself!  Now that he is starting to try a recipe or two, he is eager to do more!

Turkey Penne Casserole

1 lb Ground Turkey (or ground beef depending on your liking)
1 pkg of Whole Wheat or Multigrain Penne
1 Can of Heinz Tomato Sauce (or 1 can of Spaghetti Sauce)
1 Egg, Beaten
1/3 Cup Parmesan Cheese
Any Diced Veggies you want
1 Onion
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Parsley
1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Salt and Pepper to Taste

In a frying pan saute vegetables in a tiny amount of olive oil or spray pan with Pam.  When vegetables are slightly soft add turkey and spices and brown meat with vegetables.  While cooking the turkey and vegetables, boil penne until tender.  Drain and set aside.  Once turkey is cooked, add it to penne.  Pour in tomato sauce, beaten egg and Parmesan cheese.  Mix well and pour into casserole dish.  Bake for 20 minutes until bubbling at 350*F.  Sprinkle with some cheese if desired.  Turn on broiler for a few minutes to drown top.  Then remove and serve.