Heavenly Homemakers

Encouraging women in homemaking, healthy eating and parenting

The 3 Best Decisions I Made in 2017

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I don’t think I’ve ever come to a year’s end and felt quite so satisfied with specific choices God has led me to make.

Well, I did feel pretty good about my decision to say “yes” at the end of 1993 when the cute soccer guy asked, “Will you marry me?” Good choice, Laura. Good choice.

But here we are, 24 years and many thousands of life lessons later. As 2017 comes to a close, I have been exceedingly joyful about making three important decisions during the past twelve month that have – if I may sound so dramatic – changed my life.

Laura700

This picture was the result of my oldest son taking family pictures,
turning his camera suddenly toward me, and saying, “Hey mom!”

Choice #1

After considering it for years and being too intimidated to follow through with it, I finally decided to hire someone to help me clean my house. Sound frivolous? I thought so too. But my house is big and my schedule is full. While my sons are incredibly helpful with so many of the basic and necessary daily and weekly chores around the house, there were too many deeper cleaning jobs that we never, ever got around to.

This weighed on me heavily. So I finally made the phone call. I pay for just four hours each month and the change it’s made in my home and in my stress level has been incredible. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and worth every penny. Hooray for a cleaner house in 2017 (and for the dear friend who fills my home with love while she clears away my dust)!

Choice #2

After being completely overwhelmed with the fact that I could no longer keep up with all the work it takes to run this blog, I asked God to guide me in finding help. He provided not one, but two gals who are a perfect match to help me do what needs to be done regularly so that I can focus more on what I love: writing and creating recipes!

Not one day goes by that I fail to be thankful for the relief this has brought to my daily life.

As an added bonus, the three ladies who help me clean or keep up with blog work are all friends who were seeking a little extra income to help with their own family’s needs. I love it when God provides win-wins!

Choice #3

This choice has been the best of the best. After seeking Jesus in new and better ways during the past few years and while encountering what I can only label as being attack from the enemy, God provided a loving Christian therapist this year to walk me through a deep journey toward breaking chains and finding spiritual healing.

There are no words to describe the freedom I’ve discovered because of the godly help this woman has offered. God is teaching me how to love more freely, to live more fully and peacefully through the Holy Spirit, and to allow myself to be filled with all the goodness He has to offer.

Thankful

I guess I could sum up my year by saying, “I asked for help. God faithfully provided.”

I’ve known for quite some time that I can’t do it all. But this year was the first that I waved the white flag and asked for help in so many different ways. It’s been so glorious that if I didn’t know that God’s timing is perfect, I might question why I waited so long. :)

I look back on 2017 with a great big grin, a heart overflowing with joy, a head freed from the clutter of anxiety, and as an added perk, a bedroom floor that finally gets cleaned regularly.

I pray that your 2017 has been full of all the goodness our God so freely offers. I’d love to hear your thoughts as you reflect on all He’s done for you this year!

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Healthy Crock Pot Recipes: Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip

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When I think of New Year’s Eve, I think of chip dip. Of course, I also think of playing games, and spending time with friends and loved ones…just so long as none of those dear friends and loved ones get in the way of me and my chip dip. I have been known to greedily reach across serving lines and yank chip dip ladles out of people’s hands before.

Not really. I only picture doing that in my head. On the outside, I’m smiling sweetly and waiting patiently in line for my turn with the dip. I would never really grab a chip dip ladle from someone or push my way to the front of the line to get my dip. (Except for in my head.)

In case you need a tasty and easy chip dip recipe for a gathering this weekend, you may be interested in trying this Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip recipe. And then, you will want to take care and not invite me to your New Year’s  Eve gathering. If I see this dip at your table, there’s no telling what I might do.

Crock Pot Hamburger Cream Cheese Dip

Hamburger Cream Cheese DipYum

2 pounds ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (4 ounces) mild green chili peppers
Sea salt to taste
2 cans (8 ounces each) tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
16 ounces cream cheese, softened and cubed

Brown ground beef in a skillet with the onion. Place cooked meat into a crock pot and add remaining ingredients. Set crock pot on low for two hours. Stir, taste, and add additional seasonings if desired. Serve with tortilla chips. We prefer these organic corn chips.

Do you have any exciting New Year’s Eve plans? Except for eating dip, I’m not really sure what we’ve got going on. But then again, I don’t suppose it really matters, just so long as there’s dip.

I think I need to join a chip dip support group.

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National Day of What?

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We already covered the fact that Monday was National Pretzel Day.
 
But did you know that this upcoming Friday is National No Pants Day? I wish I were kidding. First of all, who came up with that? And how in the world was it approved as a national holiday? And what on earth is the purpose? To celebrate free will? To rebel against constricting legware? To save money on laundry detergent for a day?
 
If you can’t get into that holiday, perhaps you’ll like Saturday’s holiday better. It’s National Stay Up All Night Celebration. Yeah, I can make it until about 10 pm and then my sentences no longer make sense and my eyes start to glaze over. Staying up all night does not work for me. I can’t do it. But if you want to, go right ahead. It’s a National Holiday after all.
 
Last Friday was National Hairball Awareness Day. I am quite aware that hairballs exist. I’ve seen cats cough them up and it isn’t pretty. I’m not sure how much more aware of hairballs I need to be. Perhaps I have been in denial of how many hairballs there really are in this Nation of ours. I feel slightly ashamed of my lack of attention toward the matter.
 
While we’re on the subject of cats, did you know that there’s a What If Cats And Dogs Had Opposable Thumbs Day? Yep. It does make you pause to take a moment and reflect on the possiblity, doesn’t it? Okay, I’m all done reflecting. Moving on…
 
Oh wow – another cat day. Sure enough, December 15 is National Cat Herders Day. I’ve herded cows before and have found that it is not easy for me. I can’t imagine herding a bunch of cats. And by the way, where are we trying to get them walk together in unison? While I don’t really want to participate in herding a group of cats into one specific place, if you are planning to do it, please call me because I’d kinda like to watch.
 
There was a day in January in which Rid the World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day was celebrated. Yeah, I’m pretty sure it was not highly effective.
 
The last day of the year is apparently Make Up Your Mind Day. Should I celebrate it though? I can’t decide. I keep going back and forth on that one. 
 
There is also a National No Interupptions Day. While I would love for my children to celebrate this day – every day- I can’t help but think of the insanity of not being able to interrupt a radio or TV show with an important announcement. “We interrupt this broadcast to inform you of a severe weather alert. Oh WAIT, never mind! It’s No Interupptions Day. Go about your business. Take care.”
 
Well, use your best judgement about National No Pants Day coming up next Friday. I may stay home all day, just to play it safe. Because while I certainly don’t want to go around without my pants, I really don’t want to see you without yours.
 
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