The Big White Farmhouse

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.  It turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.  It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.  Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. – Melody Beattie

FAVORITE RECIPES FROM LAST MONTH

• Chicken Fried Rice.  This recipe satisfied our craving for Chinese takeout.  We served it with eggrolls from the freezer. 
• Pretzel Bread.  My favorite bread of the month!  Because the bread machine does all of the mixing and rising, the hands-on time is only minutes.
• Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins.  Thank you to my dear friend Tabitha for this one.  I had D makes these on his own and he’s made them about six times!  The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of sugar, but we’ve reduced that to almost 1/4 without any complaints. 

• ✔ I want to spend time with God everyday.  I’m still working through the Bible (as of Feb 29, I was on day 234/365) and haven’t missed a day.  I also watched the first six segments of The Wild Goose series on the Holy Spirit.  I’m really enjoying them and recommend it.  It gave me a lot of clarity as I struggled through the roots of my latest bout of stress/anxiety.  

• ✔ I want to keep on, keepin’ on with our debt freedom journey.  We used most of our tax refund to pay a big chunk off of our car loan.  The end is near!

• ✔ I want to be a better steward of my home.  I’m still using The Confident Mom’s Household Planner with great success.  I completed only 9/29 decluttering “missions” but still find it helpful, so will continue in March.  Frugal accomplishments hit an all-time high in February – I was on a roll!  

• ✔ I want to hand write 52 pieces of mail.  I didn’t have anywhere near the numbers I pulled in January, but I’m still on track!  I sent out 5 pieces.  (Here is the post.)  Current total = 24 pieces

• ✔ I want to write 150 blog posts.  I hit a mini writing slump at the beginning of the month, but still managed to post 14 times.  Current total = 34

• ✔ I want to read 52 books.  I read 6 books. (Here is the post.)  Current total = 14

• ✘ I want to take the first steps for postpartum doula certification.  Still nothing.  

• ✔ I want to create a family culture of generosity.  Another successful month with our 20/20 Giving:

• February’s $20 Donation // We learned about a holy priest who has recently been diagnosed with ALS.  We donated to help him with expenses that are not covered by insurance and for the eventual need of assistance as the disease progresses.  
• February’s 20 Minutes of Time and Talent // leading a men’s group at church, altar serving, baking cookies for the first Lenten Supper, helping out at a children’s retreat