Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

Toilets…or Taxes?

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At our house…we have a little arrangement. 

My husband does the taxes…I do the toilets.

It’s a nice arrangement. It works for me.

Since we are self-employed…tax time is not a pretty one around here. We never rush to get our taxes done early so that we can get our (what are those things called again?)…oh yeah… tax refund.

Yeah, we don’t get one of those. We always get to write a big check on April 15.

We’ve never had the benefit of our employer paying for half of our social security tax…so we get to pay the whole amount. (ouch) 

And, there are SO many crazy details to figure out…with mileage…expenses…supplies…what percentage of the house can we write off…

Oh, there’s so much fine print. And so many details. And forms. And details.

Therefore, I’m completely and totally thrilled that my husband is willing to read all of the fine print and details on all of the forms and figure out our taxes. 

I would MUCH rather clean the toilets. (And we have four little boys…so uh…well…you know…) 

So that’s our arrangement….Matt does the taxes…I do the toilets.

Now, he doesn’t think that’s fair…since he only has to do the taxes once a year…and I have to wash the toilets…well…more often than that.

But I’ve assured him over and over as he labors over the piles of forms and crunches numbers on the calculator until three in the morning for several days in a row…that I’m really okay with it. Really.

So, we got the taxes done and turned in yesterday…so his job is over for a while. 

As for me…our little tax write-offs have done a number in both bathrooms…and I’m gonna go grab the toilet brush.

(Huh. Is there any way we can use a percentage of the toilet brush as a tax write off? Yeah…probably not.)

Just curious? Which would you rather do…toilets or taxes?!

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Gratituesday: Creativity and Fun

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gratituesday21.jpg

Remember when you were a kid…and you were given a lump of clay or playdough…and you just sat there molding it and shaping it until you had the form of what you were wanting? I used to LOVE doing that!

Last week, my two oldest kids were able to go to an art class. When I went to pick them up…they were sitting there having so much fun shaping their clay that they didn’t even know I was there. (You know…kinda like when they are watching a movie?)  We got to bring the clay molds home and bake them and paint them so that we can keep them forever.

So…I have a couple of thoughts this Gratituesday.

First, I’m thankful for my kids…who are healthy and able to sit at a table and be creative and just enjoy life. I really am amazed at their creativity. They are so much fun to watch.

Second, I’m reminded that I should sit down with my kids and enjoy simple things more often. Rarely do I want to sit and play with clay…because it gets my hands messy…I have dishes that need to be done…and I forgot to put the clothes in the dryer. I need to just sit down and play more. 

Third, I can’t look at clay without thinking about how God is continuing to mold and shape me to be more like him. I’m so thankful that He’s still working with me. What a great thing to talk to my kids about while we’re sitting down together playing with clay. A perfect teachable moment.

Here’s the recipe for the clay if you’d like to give it a go with your kids…and here are the creative projects my kids came up with!

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So…what did God do for YOU this week?! Leave us a comment….or…  Blog about it and come back and link up! Share with us how God is working in your life…even if it’s “just” a simple thing! Simple things are worth praising God about! Let’s encourage one another this Gratituesday!

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Make Ahead Meals: Cheesy Beef and Rice

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On a day when there’s lots of activity (um…that would be every day), it’s so nice to have a meal like Cheesy Beef and Rice prepared in the freezer ready to pull out and bake. Quickly toss a salad and warm up a veggie, and your meal is made!

Over the next several weeks, while I continue to post new breakfast ideas, and great ways to eat lots of fruits and veggies – I’ll also be posting some great recipes that you can make up ahead of time and put into the freezer to have on hand for busy evenings. 

To start us off, here’s a super easy recipe to put together. There’s nothing fancy about this dish, but it’s tasty just the same. This Cheesy Beef and Rice has been a long time family favorite of ours!

Cheesy Beef and Rice

Cheesy Beef and RiceYum

Make Ahead Meals: Cheesy Beef and Rice
 
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Author:
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups long grain brown rice
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 3 Tablespoons minced onion, or fresh chopped onion
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • sea salt, to taste
  • 1½ cups sour cream
  • ⅓ cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
  1. Boil three cups of water.
  2. Stir in rice.
  3. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes.
  4. Brown ground beef with onion and garlic powder.
  5. Mix with rice and salt well.
  6. Stir in sour cream and milk.
  7. Spread into a casserole dish.
  8. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cover well and freeze.
  9. Bake in a 350° oven for 45 minutes, or until bubbly.
  10. Or, place frozen casserole, covered with foil, into a cold oven.
  11. Turn oven on to 250°, baking for about 2 hours or until casserole is heated through and through.

I hope you’ll keep coming back to read more recipes of dishes that you can make ahead of time and put into the freezer! In the meantime, I encourage you to look through all of the Make-Ahead Meals we’ve shared through the years. So much time saved!

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Eat More Fruits and Veggies: Very Berry Brownie Cups

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Many of you are aware that there is a Eat More Fruits and Veggies Challenge going on around here. If you haven’t heard of this…check it out here. 

I had confessed in this post that sometimes I just really want to choose the brownie…instead of the fruit or veggie. (I’m talking really, really want to choose the brownie…)

So then Marie suggested, “Hey, make your brownies with applesauce, then you’ll get fruit and a brownie!”

And I said, “Yeah, but then I’d have to eat the whole pan of brownies in order to get a full serving in.” (which, I could do…)

And then it was suggested to throw in a couple of strawberries with the brownie too… ‘Cause, you know…strawberries and chocolate together…that’s always yummy…

(I LOVED all of your comments on this post…can you tell?! I was cracking up all day.) (Um, while I chewed on my carrot sticks, of course…)

So, here it is folks…inspired by you…the Very Berry Brownie Cup. 

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Very Berry Brownie CupsYum

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup rapadura (dehydrated cane sugar juice)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
fresh blueberries and strawberries
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3-4 drop stevia
1/4 t. vanilla

Stir together the applesauce, rapadura and cocoa powder. Add egg and vanilla. Mix in the flour. Pour batter into 10 paper lined muffin cups. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Whip the cream with beaters until soft peaks form. Add the stevia and vanilla and whip again just to mix.

Serve brownie cups piled with strawberries and blueberries, and topped with whipped cream.

I’ve just gotta say, that eating chocolate truly is a great way to make your home a haven…don’t you think? ‘Cause chocolate makes Mama happy…and a happy mama makes for a happy haven.

Oh, and of course, that means I’m eating fruit too…which is of course is the real point of this post…

;)

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Menu Plan For This Week

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We’re off to a great start this week already at our house! You HAVE to try the new recipe that I just posted on the HeavenlyHomemakers website for Scalloped Potatoes and Carrots! Mmm! We loved it! 

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Sunday, April 13
Monkey bread, bananas
Lamb roast, scalloped potatoes and carrots
Chips with cream cheese salsa dip, fruit plate

Monday, April 14
Whole wheat pancakes
Taco potatoes, fresh pineapple
Cheesy beef and rice, asparagus

Tuesday, April 15
Fruit and yogurt delight, granola
Chicken veggie quesadillas, pears
Spaghetti, tossed salad, corn

Wednesday, April 16
Gingerbread muffins, cantelope
Homemade chicken nuggets and fries, carrot sticks
Shepherd’s pie 

Thursday, April 17
Blueberry coffee cake
Tuna melts, cottage cheese with peaches
Lasagne casserole,  spinach salad, steamed carrots

Friday, April 18
Fruit smoothies, toast
Tomato soup, homemade soft pretzels, cheese
Hamburgers, onion rings

Saturday, April 19
Whole wheat cake donuts
Bean dip with baked tortilla chips, strawberry fruit salad
Deer steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas

This week I’ll be posting all new recipes…including Cheesy Beef and Rice, Very Berry Brownie Cups, Gingerbread Muffins, Blueberry Coffee Cake, and Awesome Homemade Onion Rings!! 

Be sure to come on back to read how to make these!

Check out lots of other great menu plans at Organizing Junkie!

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Mighty To Save

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The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. he will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17

I HAD to share this song with you…and the artist’s story behind it. It’s powerful and uplifting.

The artist’s name is Laura Story…and here she tells of a recent difficult journey with her husband.

Then, come back and listen to the whole song…and tell me if you don’t think it’s as powerful as I do… You can’t help but worship God with this song!!


Our God IS…MIGHTY TO SAVE!!!

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I Don’t Know Means…I Don’t Know

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Justus asks me at least once a day if we can invite someone over to play…

The question usually comes as I’m changing the diaper of the one year old I babysit for…with Malachi hanging on my back…and Asa hollering in from the other room, “MOM! What does it mean to find the lowest common denominator again?!”

Okay, but today I said, “Yes, sure.” 

So he called Hannah and Sarah, since it had been a while since they had been over.

But they didn’t answer the phone…so I called back later…and they still didn’t answer…

Therefore…here is what the next two hours sounded like:

Justus:  “Mom, when do you think they’ll call back?”

Me:  “I don’t know Justus.”

Justus:  “Do you think we should call them back again?”

Me:  “No, we left two messages already. They might be out of town or something.”

Justus:  “Oh? Where did they go?”

Me:  “I don’t know if they went anywhere…I’m just saying that since they haven’t called back yet…they might have gone out of town. It could be that they are just at Wal-mart or something like that.”

Justus:  “Well, what did they need to get at Wal-mart?”

Me:  “I don’t know. They might not be at Wal-mart. I’m just saying they are probably out somewhere and haven’t gotten our messages yet.”

Justus:  “Well, when are they getting back?”

Me:  “I don’t even know where they are, buddy. I don’t know when they’ll get back.”

Justus:  “Do you think they’ll get back in about an hour?”

Me:  “I don’t know.”

Justus:  “Well when do you think they’ll be able to call us?”

Me:  “Buddy, I don’t know. I don’t know anything about their day today. I don’t know.”

Justus:  “Okay, but what if they don’t call back?”

Me:  “Then we’ll just call Benjamin or someone else to come over and play.”

Justus:  “But, why can’t Hannah and Sarah come over?”

Me:  “I don’t know, Justus. I don’t know means I don’t know. I DON’T KNOW.”

Justus:  “Oh, so you don’t know?”

(and so on and so forth…)

Hannah and Sarah never did call back…

And I STILL don’t know where they are.

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Health Insurance…Or Not?

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I sort of have a love/hate relationship with health insurance.

I love it when it actually does something to help us (which is rare…but we have had a few times when it has actually paid for something).

I don’t love it during all the times that it doesn’t do anything (except take our money for premiums…and then not cover anything) Grr.

Now that we’ve started using more natural health options, our health insurance really doesn’t seem to be worth having. Insurance companies tend to freak out when you use the word “natural.” Yikes!

We’ve started looking into Christian Healthcare Ministries. With this program, the money we pay each month actually goes directly to another family with medical bills. If we were ever in need, this organization would help us directly, thanks to the sharing of other Christian families. We love that concept, and it just seems to make so much sense.

Christians helping Christians. Love it.

So, I’m wondering…what experiences do all of you have with health insurance…or alternative ideas like Christian Healthcare Ministries?

What are your thoughts on how we as Christians should best be using our money in this area?

Share with me your ideas and opinions!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How we save thousands on health insurance every year

~~~~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been a few years since I originally wrote this post. Since then, we jumped aboard with Christian Healthcare Ministries and haven’t looked back.

It has been fantastic!

We’ve saved thousands of dollars every year using this. They’ve met our needs fully. They have been wonderful to work with through medical issues we’ve had. My favorite: They didn’t worry about pre-existing conditions.

I highly recommend you look into this for your family!

Our family of six pays only $135/month for Bronze Coverage. That is perfect for our family since we choose alternative medicine if at all possible. Instead of paying high monthly premiums that cover nothing for our family, we pay a very low monthly premium and put money in savings to cover a deductible if we need it and to cover our chiropractor or natural doctor bills as needed.

With the cost of health insurance rising, the coverage getting worse, and the frustration mounting – look into Christian Healthcare Ministries. We are so thankful God has provided this!

Christian Healthcare Ministries

P.S. Many have looked into Christian Healthcare Ministries since I posted this. It seems that if you give them our insurance number, our family will get a referral bonus which would cover the cost one month of fees for us. What a wonderful perk! If you feel this is a good option for you, our referral number is 145625. Thanks! :)

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Eat More Fruits and Veggies: Fruit and Yogurt Delight

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I couldn’t decide if this went better in the “Eat More Fruits and Veggies” category, or the “Here are some great breakfast ideas for you” category. Because really, it fits into both. What a deal!!

This is super simple to make and so, so yummy. Actually, it’s just delightful – which is why I just had to give it this cheesy name:  “Fruit and Yogurt Delight.” I know, it sounds like something you’d get at the Mayberry Drug Store and share with Opie or something. Bet he’d think that’d be swell.

But, take a look at this, and you tell me – does that not look delightful?!

Fruit_and_Yogurt_Parfait

Yum

So, Fruit and Yogurt Delight, the recipe:

2 cups plain yogurt (yes, plain – see below for soapbox.)
4-8 drops of stevia, or 1-2 Tablespoons real maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup each of fresh or frozen strawberries and blueberries

Mix yogurt, stevia or maple syrup and vanilla. Layer yogurt and fruit in a dish, thus making it delightful to eat, and delightful to look at.

Here’s my delightful little taste tester:

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Here’s my promised yogurt soapbox:

I get so frustrated because SO MANY things in the store are advertised as being SO good for us but really it’s not (oh, don’t get me started). But one of my biggest frustrations is yogurt. It’s supposedly like the greatest health food according to almost everyone who says that it is. It’s full of high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and artificial flavors. OR if it’s the “no sugar added” kind, it has fake junk in it to make it sweet.

I could go on and on. (But I won’t – today.)

So, if you get the plain yogurt (or make your own) and add some yummy (and REAL) things to it, it’s just well, delightful!

Go give this a try!

Be sure to keep coming back for more yummy and healthy recipes. (And I promise to come up with names that are a little less June Cleaver next time…)

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Thirteen Things I Don’t Have in My House

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Last week, I posted 13 things that I have at least 13 of at my house…

This week I thought I’d post about 13 things I don’t have at my house… (because I am just so clever) (yeah, or just a little bit desperate for material…)

So here you go. 

Thirteen things that I DON’T have at my house.

1. Baby Dolls

We don’t have a one. If a little girl comes over to our house to play, she must settle for a light saber. Ooh, or an action figure. Surely she could hold and rock a little plastic ninja turtle to sleep… Nah, usually she just settles for the light saber and joins in with our crazy fun.

2.  Soccer shoes…size 1 

We have about 23 pairs of soccer cleats in all different sizes…because of hand-me-downs…all stored in a closet for the boys as they grow and need a different size. But we don’t have a size one soccer cleat. And that’s the size Elias needs this year. (sigh)

3.  Leftovers 

I think those are a part of our past. The boys (and their daddy) just keep eating until it’s gone, and then they say, “What else can I eat?” 

4. Complete sets of crayons

It’s not like this matters too much, but where’s the blue-violet when you need one?

5. Wii Game System 

But I do hear often of how nice it would be if we did have one. (The poor deprived sweeties will just have to settle for playing on their PS2, game boys, Leap Pad, Computer….)

6. Pencils that have a nice eraser on them 

What is it about erasers on pencils that get all hard and funky…and instead of erasing…they just leave a dark gray nasty smudge across the page?

7. Pens or paper by my telephone 

Or anywhere else when I need them, for that matter. Who keeps moving them…I’d like to know?

8.  Hair Thingamajiggers   

With the exception of a couple of ponytail holders for my hair…my house is free of bows, barrettes, head bands, and clips. For our boys…we have a comb…and they use it…on occasion.

9.  Snacks 

Okay, well…I do…but it all depends on when you read this post…because I do, and then they’re gone…and then I make more…and they’re gone. Right now I do…oh wait…nope…they’re gone.

10. Completed Scrapbooks   

The future wives of my sons will probably not appreciate the fact that for a wedding gift, I will lovingly hand over to them a book with one newborn picture in it and a little lock of hair…along with a big box of photos…all in random order. It’s a good day at my house when I actually remember to take a picture in the first place. (I know…all you scrapbookers out there are yelling at me! Sorrrrry. It’s just not my gift.) 

11. Clean windows 

Although, it is a goal of mine to get busy handing squirt bottles and rags to my boys so that they can be busy cleaning them now that it’s finally spring.

12. Soft playdough 

It seems that when the boys get out the playdough to make me some “lunch”…they never seem to remember to put it back into the container and close it too. Crusty playdough is just not nearly as much fun.

13.

(Yeah…13 is left blank on purpose. Get it? 13 things I don’t have at my house….I don’t have a number 13. Get it?)

(Oh, brother…)

Thursday Thirteen Hub here

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