Wednesdays around here are a bit crazy. We have AWANA and have to leave the house no later than 6:10.
So, dinner has to be something not necessarily quick to make, but it surely has to be something quick to clean up.
Last week whatever we had made a big mess and I was quite flustered because I don't like to leave the house in a shambles. As I was frantically cleaning up and even vacuuming I was reminded by a note on my kitchen window right behind the kitchen sink that says, "Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life."
I had been listening to a Focus on the Family broadcast where that was mentioned and I thought it was quite profound. I copied it down on a sticky note and put it right where I will see it ALL the time, especially when I am in a hurry (because let me be honest here, I am usually in a hurry because I am trying to leave the house in perfect order and therefore I am at the sink washing dishes or getting a wet paper towel to wipe up the dripped juice).
That quote has spoken to me quite a bit over the past two weeks or so. I have read it and forced myself to slow down, to not get flustered or angry and to keep my self-control in check. God has been showing me that anger is one area He desires to free me from and this little quote has helped me recognize that hurrying makes me angry, sometimes.
When I am in a hurry I get frustrated with myself, angry even. Sometimes that anger quickly turns into sin. When I am in a hurry I am more quick to snap at Katrina or Samuel or even at Panchito. In a hurry sometimes I end up sinning and I am so thankful that the Lord has pointed that out to me.
So, back to Wednesday nights... Last Wednesday as I was moving around the kitchen like a tornado trying to get it in order so we could get out the door I remembered that my brother's mother-in-law shared with my one time that when their kids were young the dad was the AWANA Commander at our church and they had pizza every Wednesday night. The dad would come home from work, grab a piece of pizza, eat quickly with the family and they would pick up quick and head out the door to church.
When she shared that I thought it was odd simply because I kind of like to reserve Friday or Saturday or Sunday night for pizza but to each his own. I got to thinking, though, about that tradition and I love traditions! And I thought, what if we had something every Wednesday night that would be easy to clean up and it would become a tradition in our family?
As I thought about that, I thought that it would be great to think of something that everyone in our family likes so that it would be one less battle at dinner too, to eliminate more hurry later.
So, it's semi-official (semi because this is the first week we are doing it and we will see how it works out!): Wednesday night is pasta night at our house. Not always the same kind of pasta, not always the same kind of sauce. Could be spicy chicken alfredo pasta (Jenny Deane!). Could be spaghetti and meatballs. Could be creamy restaurant-style tortellini (kraftfoods.com). Could be tomato artichoke pasta (new recipe we are trying tonight). But it will be pasta every Wednesday night.
So, dinner has to be something not necessarily quick to make, but it surely has to be something quick to clean up.
Last week whatever we had made a big mess and I was quite flustered because I don't like to leave the house in a shambles. As I was frantically cleaning up and even vacuuming I was reminded by a note on my kitchen window right behind the kitchen sink that says, "Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life."
I had been listening to a Focus on the Family broadcast where that was mentioned and I thought it was quite profound. I copied it down on a sticky note and put it right where I will see it ALL the time, especially when I am in a hurry (because let me be honest here, I am usually in a hurry because I am trying to leave the house in perfect order and therefore I am at the sink washing dishes or getting a wet paper towel to wipe up the dripped juice).
That quote has spoken to me quite a bit over the past two weeks or so. I have read it and forced myself to slow down, to not get flustered or angry and to keep my self-control in check. God has been showing me that anger is one area He desires to free me from and this little quote has helped me recognize that hurrying makes me angry, sometimes.
When I am in a hurry I get frustrated with myself, angry even. Sometimes that anger quickly turns into sin. When I am in a hurry I am more quick to snap at Katrina or Samuel or even at Panchito. In a hurry sometimes I end up sinning and I am so thankful that the Lord has pointed that out to me.
So, back to Wednesday nights... Last Wednesday as I was moving around the kitchen like a tornado trying to get it in order so we could get out the door I remembered that my brother's mother-in-law shared with my one time that when their kids were young the dad was the AWANA Commander at our church and they had pizza every Wednesday night. The dad would come home from work, grab a piece of pizza, eat quickly with the family and they would pick up quick and head out the door to church.
When she shared that I thought it was odd simply because I kind of like to reserve Friday or Saturday or Sunday night for pizza but to each his own. I got to thinking, though, about that tradition and I love traditions! And I thought, what if we had something every Wednesday night that would be easy to clean up and it would become a tradition in our family?
As I thought about that, I thought that it would be great to think of something that everyone in our family likes so that it would be one less battle at dinner too, to eliminate more hurry later.
So, it's semi-official (semi because this is the first week we are doing it and we will see how it works out!): Wednesday night is pasta night at our house. Not always the same kind of pasta, not always the same kind of sauce. Could be spicy chicken alfredo pasta (Jenny Deane!). Could be spaghetti and meatballs. Could be creamy restaurant-style tortellini (kraftfoods.com). Could be tomato artichoke pasta (new recipe we are trying tonight). But it will be pasta every Wednesday night.
I really like that quote!! I like that it makes me be responsible for the reasons I am in a hurry. It's so easy to blame something else and make other excuses why I am in a hurry or late when many times, it is lack of planning or procrastination on my part (like getting up later than I should, etc). I hope your new tradition allows you to further "simplify" your life.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Leanne