The winner of the weekend fall decorating giveaway is: Judi Splint. Please send your home address to kim@proverbs31.org to claim your prize. Enjoy!

Do Mondays energize you or stress you out?

I’d have to say they do a little of both for me. While I like starting a new week fresh, if I haven’t taken time to plan for all that another turn of the weekly page in my planner brings, it can cause me to freak out slightly.

Okay. Freak out a lot.

This year being both a homeschool and public school mom has made me feel pulled in many directions. I both homeschool and car pool. Have to teach in the day (only two subjects this year as my junior has two online classes and two fabulous face-to-face tutors for his other courses) and I have to help with homework in the evening.

If I fail to plan, I’m planning to fail. (That old adage is SO very true!) So here are some tips I’ve gathered along the way. And a great busy day recipe for soup using leftover roast beef. (Hint: if you plan now to make a roast for next Sunday’s supper, you can make this on Monday. For you gals who are away from home during the day, it works well in a crock pot too!)

Routine Tips:

~ On Sunday evenings, sit down with your planner, calendar or electronic calendar. Take note of any appointments now and add new ones to your week. This will alleviate the panic you feel when you finally look at your calendar for the week at 10 a.m. Monday morning and see that you had a dentist appointment scheduled for 9:30 that day. YIKES!

~ If you are a lunch-packing mama, don’t put a few handfuls of chips or carrots or other side dish in a baggie for your child every morning. Make 5 bags on Monday morning and, the rest of the week, just grab one to toss into their lunch pail.

~ Think creatively about cooking on the weekends. If you are having grilled chicken breasts, make double. Dice the extra for fast salads during the week. If you are making a roast or ham for Sunday, make a large one or make two smaller ones. Utilize the leftovers in a soup or casserole on Monday such as bean with ham soup, ham and scalloped potatoes or beef and noodles.

~ Think through sports, music and other extra  curriculars on the weekend BEFORE your child is frantic because he or she now needs a costume, uniform or piece of clothing. Also, don’t just wash it for them. train your kids to do their own laundry. Remember the old “teach a man to fish” business….

~ Also think through times when you will be waiting and take along a tote bag of something to do. I like to keep a book, a small Bible, a note pad and some note cards in a tote bag. Then, when I am in a carpool line, waiting room, or other holding pattern, I can be productive or spend time reading or jotting a note to someone. This came in handy last week when my 8th grader told me to pick him up after school at 3:15 when student council election speeches would be done. He finally sauntered out of the building at 4:42!!!!!  However, during that time I read a chapter, made a list and made two phone calls so I didn’t fuss and fume that I was wasting time.

~Any of you have any routine tips that help keep you plugging away? Do share.

~Okay…and here is the yummy beef soup recipe. You can use barley or pasta in it. Great with biscuits or corn bread. Enjoy!

Beef Vegetable Soup

In a large kettle combine:

10 cups beef stock water (or 10 cups water with bouillon cubes to taste)

2 cups peeled, chopped potatoes

1 1/4 cups sliced carrots

1 onion, chopped fine (3/4 cup)

2 cups chopped cabbage

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup frozen corn

2 cups leftover chopped beef

1- 14.5-ounce can petite chopped tomatoes

1/4 cup ketchup

2 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon dried, minced garlic (or one clove fresh, minced)

2 teaspoons basil

2 teaspoons oregano

2 bay leaves (optional)

Combine all and cook over medium heat for 30–45 minutes. Then add:

1/4 cup orzo, alphabet-shaped, or other small pasta or 1/4 cup pearl barley

Cook 30–45 minutes longer, until pasta (or barley) is tender. Remove bay leaves. Serves 8–10.

Photo Credit

Routine Blessings,