To Sort or Not to Sort

Your dishwasher that is. 

I didn't grow up using a dishwasher.  The dishwasher was my brother and me calling while at the dinner table either "I dry" or "you wash". No one ever called "I'm washing"!  ha! My Mom cooked most every night, we hardly ate out and we didn't have enough plates to eat multiple meals so handwashing all the dishes was how it happened at our house.  Thankfully as our family has grown so has Mom's plate collection and we use the dishwasher regularly.   

Recently I had one of the funniest conversations with my Mom, Aunt (Mom's sister) and cousin about our dishwashers.  Ask someone how they load theirs and you will get all kinds of answers and some pretty strong opinions about how it's done in "MY" house. 

I am pretty organized in most areas of my life, so it's not surprise I approach the dishwasher the same.  I believe in loading from the back, stacking similar things in a row, hand washing **gasp** pots, pans and bakeware, sorting silverware and generally tying to maximize the space as best as possible.  Turns out all 4 of us in the family have similar "rules" and ways we manage our dishwasher.  Some, no names here Mom, might take things out and re-arrange when not sorted or stacked as per their own rules.  :) 

Here's my dishwasher rules theory ...

• Stack your plates in the back, like sizes together and all in a row
• Stack smaller plates in the front of that plate
• Load cups, mugs and glasses in the top rack
• Load bowls in the center of the top rack
• Sort your silverware in the holder by knives, forks, spoons, serving and other.  You either sort it when you put it in or have to sort it when you unload.  So, why not sort it when you load?  If you have children in your house, let them help.  That part of the dishwasher is easily accessible to small children and it's great practice for matching like items and separating plus helping with chores. They can't see into the drawers for a while and are usually interested anyway when you have the dishwasher open and are loading it up.
• Handwash pots, pans and Pyrex type dishes.  I know this is WAY old fashioned and all those items are now "dishwasher safe".  However, the non-stick spray you bake on doesn't come off in the dishwasher, you fill up your dishwasher with one meal's pans before really putting in your dishes and if you're like me and clean as you go those pans can all be cleaned and put away mostly before your meal is served.  Since I used to have to handwash all the dishes, only pots and pans isn't that bad! 

For example ...

I won't go into the debate of rinsing before you load your dishes or loading straight from the table ...

And, my dishwasher the other day just before adding soap, I laughed, it looks like this every time... :)

Sound off in the comments ...how does your dishwasher function!? 

Blessings,

Steady Heart

Yesterday on the last day of the 2013 one of my besties waited while her Dad underwent quadruple bypass and while praying for his surgery I thought a lot about the heart. Same as I did when my Dad was hospitalized Oct 2012.

There are so many emotions of life that affect our heart, the best of times and the hardest of times. No matter what our days contain, the heart beats steady for us through all of our days without us even considering it.

2013 might have been one that made your heart smile, maybe your heart was mended, maybe your heart raced through a season, maybe your heart was broken for loss, maybe a thankful heart or maybe your heart was simply content. Whatever the condition of your heart, it beat for you every day.

There is One who breathed life into you and set the first beat of your heart into rhythm for all of your days. He is the one who also pursues your heart every day and offers a gracious and merciful love no matter who you are, nor what you have done which you deem unworthy of acceptance and love.

Consider your heart this new year. Be good to your heart by taking care of your body, but give your heart away everyday to the One who loves and gives you more than anyone or anything ever will. At the end of the day you will find yourself with a content heart, that is thankful and no though broken it has hope, racing to see what each day has to offer, feeling mended and ultimately despite it all a happy heart.

If your heart needs to be encouraged, there are 850+scriptures that reference the heart ... here are a few ... 

Psalm 13:5-6 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 20:4 May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!

Psalm 28:6-7 Blessed be the Lord! For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalm 112: 7-8 He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Psalm 119:35-37 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.  Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Matthew 5:7-9 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 9:22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Mark 12:29-31 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

1 Corinthians 2:8-10 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

Phillipians 4:6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Colossians 13:14-16 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

2 Timothy 2:21-23 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.

James 5:8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Blessings,