Let's chat about natural cleaners. I will admit that I am a bit of a germaphobe. I love hand sanitizer, squeaky clean bathrooms, swept floors, and shiny kitchen counters. The kitchen is of particular importance to me because germs/dirt/food do not mix well in my book. I work from home, so breakfast and lunch are eaten at home, plus I cook dinner about six nights a week. This means lots of dishes and mess. Dinnertime can be especially messy with several pots and pans and plenty of clean-up afterward. We usually run the dishwasher and wipe down our stove, countertops, and sink nightly. We installed granite countertops years ago, and I have tried a variety of products for cleaning it. I then learned that some ingredients are harmful to the granite, such as vinegar, bleach, glass ... View Post

I find the role of a pastor's wife to be both marvelous and challenging. Pastors' wives carry a heavy load of responsibility as we care for our husbands, our families, and the people in our churches, and participate in activities of the church and community. There are high expectations for our families and us. The church assumes we will be involved on every level: Bible studies, women's and children's ministries, hospitality, outreach, events, etc. How does a pastor's wife live up to the high expectations of the church? How can we do it all? I posed an open-ended question to some pastors’ wives I know who live all over the USA, from different denominations, with various years of service to get some answers. I asked them how they would respond to this question: What do you wish ... View Post

So many of us make resolutions in January, pick a 'word" for the year, and have grandiose plans of self-improvement, but we don't follow through on them. What if instead, we try making changes in small ways? Imagine if we shift our course ever so slightly so that we don't end up crashing by mid-February.  Suppose we take the road less traveled, get off the frenzy freeway, and move towards slower living? I lived the hustle and bustle life for too long, and over the last few years, God has gently spoken to me about slowing down. While I love lots of activity, going here and there, and spinning multiple plates in the air, I realized it is not healthy for me. Moving at 100 MPH, being involved in so many things, and taking on too much had left me worn out and tired. Are you ... View Post

Let's chat about home organization~ In January, we look forward, and we look back. We look back at what didn't work, and we look forward to what we can revise. Organizational skills are one of those areas where most people would love to improve, but often don't know how or where to begin. You get tired of your messy home and your messy life, but trying to figure out how to change them can be overwhelming. What is a person to do? How can you implement change? How can you organize your home? You can jumpstart your year by starting now using seven simple steps for the ultimate home organization. *** "Organization isn't about perfection. It's about efficiency, reducing stress & clutter, saving time & money, and improving your overall quality of life." Christina Scalise *** I ... View Post