Using Google Calendar to Organize your Family Schedule + Menu Plan Fridays

As I shared in my post "Let's Organize", I've been trying to get our home back on a schedule.
The past two weeks we've had a fairly good routine, but it's still not there yet. And I've begun to feel that familiar panic when I have too much to do and too little time.  So, I took a moment and ran through all my responsibilities in my head, and the panic went up 3 notches.
Then I realized that I can do it all - I just have to be more intentional and organized!
The fact is, I get sucked into Facebook too easily. I get sucked into watching TV too easily while the kids sleep. I get sucked into doing small, meaningless projects while larger important ones sit waiting.
I don't do each of these each day, but precious time is still being wasted.
However, I also know I have a threshold.  You can keep a steady pace for only so long - that's why God instituted the Sabbath!
Sundays for me are anything but what the Sabbath is meant to be - restful.  So, I am going back to my Saturday Sabbath again.

I already have a schedule - that is hung neatly on my kitchen wall.  And gathering dust.  So, I decided to use another method, that I hope will be more effective.
Google Calendar!
I started my new old schedule this morning.  I know it's Friday - who starts new things on Friday? Right?  Me! That's who.  
This is what it looks like:

If you've never used Google Calendar before, it is very simple.
1. From any Google page, you'll find the link at the top under your address bar.  Click on the date and time you want to schedule an event.  
2. If it's a one time event, you can use the small pop-up box, otherwise click on "edit event" and you'll be taken to a screen where you can add more information about the event and schedule it to repeat daily, weekly (weekdays, on certain week days, etc), monthly or annually.
This is great for keeping track birthdays, anniversaries and holidays, too!
At every event you receive an email reminder.  
Plus you can color-code it,  too and keep multiple calendars going in one place! I have color codes set up from when I used Google Calendar before - for family events, blogging and ministry events - and I plan to use them again.  
The best part is, by keeping to this strict schedule, I get Saturday off.  Clean house, laundry done, baking done, blogging done, comments answered, severely neglected emails answered, severely neglected FB page updated, and all my work and ministry done!
On top of that...
When the kids go to bed, I wont have to work.
I can't wait for next week!!!
Now - for menu planning:

Z is third shift next week, so I have to choose meals that I can prep quickly while the kids are alone in the living room.  I try to make one meal last two days. Plus he usually stops by the bakery on his way home, so I am not planning breakfasts this week, except for Sunday.
Monday: Lunch - Chicken in a cream sauce with Gnocchi, fresh salad
Tuesday:  Lunch - Leftovers
Wednesday: Breakfast - Lunch - Meatballs (sauce recipe to come), fresh salad
Thursday: Breakfast - Lunch - Varivo
Friday: Lunch - Leftovers
Saturday: Lunch - Chicken enchiladas (recipe to come)
Sunday: Breakfast - Tuna Salad on Toast / Lunch - Baked chicken with potato slices (recipe to come)

Linking up with some these blogs:
M: Motivation Monday, Gracelaced Mondays, Playdates at the Wellspring, Mom's the Word   T: Titus2 Tuesdays, Women Helping Women, W: Women Living Well, Wisdom Wednesday, Wholehearted Wednesdays, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Deep Roots at Home Th: Thrive at Home, Serving Joyfully F: Faith Filled Friday, Favorite Friday Things, Just For Fun Friday ; TGIF Fridays

Click HERE to find out how you can receive a copy of my book 14 Days of Agape for free and purchase Worship the Father and Discovering True Identity .