| Well… all I want to share
this week is some encouragement to take care of things
that need doing and try to “forget” the rest. I know that’s
easier said than done! Since next week is Thanksgiving here
in the United States, there are many preparations, many menu
items to plan, shop for, and to prepare.
I suggest that you just keep
a tablet or notebook handy and jot down the things that
you’d like to accomplish before next week. Sort of do a
mental planning of what needs to be done, who’s available to
do what, how long each thing will take to prepare or
accomplish and what menu items or grocery items do you need
to plan for and when will you shop. If you sort of do a
“backwards” planning---starting with next Thursday and
looking backward to today, what do you need to do by each
day? This is an easy way to plan for most any occasion---not
just Thanksgiving.
Here are some ideas for you:
WRITE THINGS DOWN on a Kitchen tablet or a Kitchen Log
(Sections for notes, phone calls, menus, grocery lists,
etc.). Get your recipes out, too.
-
As you plan for the big day, keep copies of menus,
lists, schedules,
“time-frames,” table decorations and tableware you’re
going to use, and any
decorations you’d like to make or purchase for your
home. There are so many
“free things” in the yard that you can use for
decorating.
-
Do as much ahead of time as possible! Really! This will
help you relax
and be enjoyable to be around! Be sweet to your family!
They will remember
holidays or gatherings a lot by how *you* handle things.
You are the heart
of the home---be a sweetheart!
-
Be sure to tidy up and even decorate a little outside
your home --- this
says Welcome Home! to your family and guests.
-
For Inside your home, plan what decorations or
decorating you want to do…
a fall centerpiece, a fall wreath, leaves, branches, a
“pilgrim-theme?”
- How about your
“guest list?” Who’s coming to dinner?
- Set
your menu plans and for your Thanksgiving dinner. This
will be
especially important if you have family or guests that
will be bringing
foods or contributing to the meal.
-
Make “doubles” of foods and put away foods for the
freezer---this will
help you in the days ahead!
- Plan
what you’re going to have for dinner *for the night
before
Thanksgiving* This will be a blessing to your family!
Smile and serve them
supper! Remember, sweetheart? ;-)
-
If you keep a log in your kitchen---you’ll be able to
make plans and check
them off when they’re completed or make adjustments when
needed!
-
Plan the table ware, serving pieces, etc. you’ll use for
the meal---even
if it’s your “everyday” dishes. Get things cleaned up
–this week- so you
don’t have to wonder what to do next week.
-
If you’re going to have a fresh Turkey… plan where
you’ll store it. If
you’re going to have to thaw a frozen turkey, plan a few
days in advance
where you are going to thaw it. Refrigerator? Ice chest?
- This
time of year, especially, I spend a lot of time in the
kitchen. This
is the time of year I clean out cabinets and drawers
very thoroughly. I
wipe off bottles and jars, sometimes replenish baking
supplies, I wipe out
cabinets and drawers and replace things neatly. I try to
order the pantry
at this time of year, too. I “maintain things” all the
time ---but *really*
clean them at this time of year---the homey time of
year! In the spring and
summer, there’s much to do outside; this time of year,
there’s much to do
*inside*!
-
You may think ---it’s time to cook… how in the world do
I have time to
clean?!? Well… just take a cabinet a day… a drawer, too,
and you’ll get
through.
-
Delegate, delegate, delegate! Have chores for everyone
to complete EACH
day! Count down to the day and you’ll have things neat
and tidy. But,
remember, sweet-heart, be sweet about it! Yes, you do
need to be neat about
it, but be sweet about it!
-
Make Cranberry relish –this week-- (if your family likes
it!).
- Do
your baking a couple of days before Thanksgiving.
-
Try to think of all the things your dinner table will
need and plan for
those things. Beverages, rolls & butter and jam; other
condiments, coffee &
tea, sugar and cream.
-
Remember… in addition to your family hoping to eat on
Thanksgiving Eve,
remember in all your preparations, they’ll need
breakfast on Thanksgiving
morning! Remember, sweet-heart? :-)
-
Think about the activities of the day… what would you
like to do? Games,
slides, pictures, memory-makers? Think about it all in
advance! You’ll be
so happy during the day if you plan in advance.
- For
any last minute things that come to mind… write them
down… try to
accomplish them---but! If you can’t… forget about it.
Relax---be sweet.
It’s not worth it to be ghastly that day –or any day!
-
Clean your home well a couple of times between now and
then. This way,
each day will only require a tidy-up. If that’s not
possible, then do the
best you can to make your home feel refreshing!
-
The day before Thanksgiving, clean up all around, dust
and vacuum, clean
the sinks and potties and be done with it.
-
Prepare what you can and rest.
-
And remember… your family may not remember all that went
into the
preparations, all that you fixed, all that you “slaved
over” and
sacrificed, but they will remember how “holidays” were
at home…
Remember you’re the heart of your home. Be a sweet one.
All the stuff won’t matter a bit. Really it won’t.
Help them remember Jesus in you. Help them remember
their mama had a sweet and tender heart.
Many blessings to you and Happy Thanksgiving,
sweet-heart.
With love, pamela
http://www.achristianhome.org
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