Intentional Living

  • Never Alone

    It has been a full week of activities, guests, work, and so much more.  There have been many moments of celebration and joy as well as some moments of  great tears.  During this week we received news from three different families about the loss of one of their children.  After processing the news it can be tough as a friend knowing the right  words to say and finding ways to be an encouragement to the family during such a painful time.  Earlier this week while I was going through my email I came across one from DaySpring that has stuck in my mind and I want to share it with you.  This little piece was such an encouragement to me during unusual week.  It is called “Never Alone”

    Never Alone

    You’re never alone. God is with you.
    He knows your name.
    He numbers the hairs on your head.
    He understands the cares in your heart.
    Every morning, He’s by your side.
    Every night, He watches over you as you sleep.
    There’s never a moment you’re not in His thoughts…
    never a day you’re not in His care.
    You’re never on your own.
    He whispers to your heart, “You’re forever My own.”

    I wasn’t planning on sharing this but after all the events that have unfolded in the past week (including the loss of three young children) I think it is important that we occasionally see some words of encouragement.  I do not know what you are going through today, but whether you are on a hilltop rejoicing or in the valley with tears in your eyes we can take comfort in knowing we are never alone.  Even though life has a way of throwing us curve balls and taking us through trials that are painful we know that each one was placed in our life for a specific purpose.

    Take time to focus on the amazing blessings you have given then spend a few moments thinking of ways you can make a positive impact on the lives around you.  After brainstorming pick one activity and do it for someone else whether it is saying “congratulations” or words of “sympathy” let someone know you care about them.  It can be as simple as an email, phone call, text, meal, flowers, or card and will probably only take you a few moments but it can make a powerful impact in the life of another person.

    I apologize for my absence these last few days.  It has not only been a tough week with all the tears but we had Jake’s sister and her family staying with us who are missionaries to Indonesia which brought much joy and laughter to our week.  I am thankful for the many wonderful times and memories we created together over the past week.  It is my intention to be back on schedule next week, I soooooo appreciate all of you checking in on me and your patience.   You are a tremendous blessing in my life, thank you!

    Photo by Noel Reynolds

  • Organized Chaos: Clean Pantry

    Organizing the Large Kitchen Pantry

    Since I cleaned out the white pantry cabinet it is time for the large pantry to be cleaned out.  It is wonderful having a large pantry in the kitchen but when it gets all disorganized it makes it difficult to find the items that you need.  Thankfully I have a system where the different types of food go but there are times when they don’t get put away in the right place so it becomes a little crazy over time.

    Organizing the left side of the pantry

    • First Shelf (from the top) – Flour and Sugar
    • Second Shelf – Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar & Powdered Sugar
    • Third Shelf – Cream of Mushroom, Cream of Chicken, Mushrooms
    • Fourth Shelf – Tomatoes (Diced, Whole, Paste, Sauce)
    • Fifth Shelf – Pasta & Spaghetti Sauces
    • Bottom Shelf – Pasta & Spaghetti Sauces, Oatmeal, Oils

    The middle shelves hold a lot of other food items from soup, pickles, olives, salsa, tuna fish, jam, jelly, frosting, and more!  It is nice having it all organized.  Now I know exactly what items I need to pick up at the store and which ones I have plenty of in the pantry.

    Organizing the back right side of the pantry

    I didn’t get a picture of the full right back side of the pantry.  The first two shelves have boxed items from desserts to pancakes to muffins and more.

    • Third Shelf – Boxed Food Items
    • Fourth Shelf – Canned Fruit
    • Fifth Shelf – Canned Vegetables
    • Bottom Shelf – Canned Beans

    It makes me happy having a clean and organized pantry!  Let’s hope it stays somewhat organized for at least a few months (who am I kidding maybe a few weeks) with both of us and the kids going in and out of it!   Although I am thankful for a husband and kids who enjoy helping out in the kitchen.

  • I’ve got a “crush” on you!

    Sweet treat for my man

    I discovered these cute “pop” love notes from Darling Doodles and have been enjoying adding these love notes to my stash of ones to give to Jake!  He enjoys drinking Orange Crush so when it goes on sale I try to get a little for him.  This particular love note was a great one to give to my man – I’ve got a “crush” on you!

    This was a surprise I had waiting for him one day after he had been away on a work trip.  Always love having a little surprise waiting for him when he gets home after being away.  I make sure the surprises are different and are placed in random places too which gives an extra variety.  These love notes have been a great addition and been a lot of fun to use!

    I’ve got a “crush” on you!

  • Travel & Vacation: “We Love You” Folder

    Jake’s Folder of “Love” Notes

    Awhile ago the girls and I made a “We Love You” folder for Jake to take with him when he travels.  Even though we love the opportunities when we can go with him it is not always possible to go with him on every trip.  When he goes on a trip and we cannot tag along we send our “We Love You” folder with him along with notes or drawings from each of us.  Jake enjoys seeing the pictures and reading the notes while he is away.  We have a blast putting something special in the folder for him.

    Here are a few examples of items we have put into his “We Love You!” Folder:

    Love note to Jake

    Karlie’s love note to Daddy

    Brina’s love note to Daddy

    Drawing from Karlie

    Sweet note from the girls

    Note to Daddy from Karlie

    Note to Daddy from Brina

    I Love You note to my Handsome Man!

  • Review & Giveaway: Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler

    I am thrilled to introduce you to the new Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler that I have recently received PLUS I will be giving away 1 of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler’s to one lucky reader (details below)!!!  It includes everything you need for your waste and recycling in one container for your kitchen.  Even though we have only been using it for a short time our family has enjoyed having a specific spot to put all our recycling materials.   The recycled items are contained within the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler so we don’t even have to see them until we are ready to take them to recycle. I am very excited to be giving one of these great Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers to one of my readers!

    Here are some of the benefits of the Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler:

    • Keeps recyclables off the counter by giving them a place to live in your kitchen
    • The bottom tilt out bin holds a standard 8-gallon trash bag AND features LinerLock™ bag management, so your bag stays put and does not slip
    • Both the top bin and bottom bin have convenient handles when needed to transport recyclables to wherever your recycling is stored for pick-up or transport
    • The 2-in-1 Recycler fits more recyclables while using 25% less floor space compared to typical divided containers
    • Made with recyclable materials and is recyclable

    The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler has quickly become a hit with my family.  My favorite part about this great product is that it takes up less floor space and contains all the recycled material in one spot.  The recycled items are out of sight until it is time to take them and Rubbermaid has made it easy to transport the items with the handles.

    Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler details:

    • Two unit bin 2-in-1 Recycler
    • Contain trash and recyclables all in one location or sort your recyclables
    • Sleek design blends into kitchen décor
    • Features LinerLock™ bag management in lower bin
    • Removable lid
    • Fold-away handles
    • 5.8 gal sorting bin
    • 7.4 gal tilt out bin with Liner Lock™ handles
    • Total capacity = 13.2 gal
    • Perfect for multi-stream or single stream recycling
    • Suggested Retail Price is $39.99

    I encourage you to check out more information on Rubbermaid’s 2-in-1 Recycler if you are interested in finding a nice solution for your recycling needs.  These Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recyclers would make a great birthday or wedding gifts for family or friends!  The Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler can be purchased at Rubbermaid’s website or at your local Meijer store.

    Giveaway

    As a way to say thank you to my readers and to share Rubbermaid’s great 2-in-1 Recycler I am hosting a giveaway!

    The winner of this giveaway will receive:

    • 1 Rubbermaid 2-in-1 Recycler (see picture and details above)

    Here’s how to enter the giveaway:

    1. Sign up to follow my blog (if you haven’t done so already) and leave a comment below telling us how you follow Blessings Multiplied.  You can sign up to receive Blessings Multiplied via email or like on Facebook.
    2. You can get a bonus entry into the drawing if you leave a separate comment below sharing your best recycling tip!

    All comments must be made by Monday, April 30, 2012 at 10:00 PM EST to be entered into the drawing.

    More information about Rubbermaid and the 2-in-1 Recycler can be found:

    *I was given this product for free to write an informed review.  The opinions expressed in this post are my own.  I was not paid to write this post.  A special thanks to Rubbermaid for providing this 2-in-1 Recycler to review and for the giveaway for my readers!