The Grocery List That Brought Peace in Motherhood and Order in my Home

Denise Jelinek shares how one simple grocery system restored peace, purpose, and prayer to her motherhood. 

I’ll never forget bringing my first son home. 

He was 18 months old when we adopted him. The joy of a child comes with many new unexpected experiences and feelings and I remember thinking, "What in the world just happened?" 

Before I was a mom, I had a good rhythm with my prayer life. It was something I could easily carve out time for in the morning, and it filled me up for the day. But of course, when my son came home, the routines that had once felt simple and sacred suddenly felt impossible. 

One day, I confided in a mom I really trusted. She listened with empathy and told me about a book that had helped her: A Mother’s Rule of Life by Holly Pierlot. 

After I got the book, I was so excited. It felt like a lifeline. 

That book was the first time I had ever heard of the concept of being intentional with time and creating systems for my home. I’m not sure why I had never thought of it before. Before becoming a mom, I was a wife with a full-time job, and I had systems for work projects, meetings, schedules. But I had never thought of my home in that same way. 

Reading that book made me feel empowered and confident and the hopelessness and overwhelm of being a new mom began to fade. It gave me a way to bring those same organizational skills into my family life.  

And one of the very first systems I created (almost twenty years ago) was my grocery system. It’s simple, practical, and it still blesses me today.  

Groceries Were Stealing My Peace 

Motherhood gives us constant opportunities to problem-solve. But sometimes we forget to pause and actually notice what’s draining us. 

For me, it was grocery shopping, planning meals, and all the details around food. We’d run out of basics, I’d forget what we needed, and meal planning felt like a weekly mountain to climb. 

Once you know what’s stealing your peace, you can begin to ask God for wisdom in that specific area and start solving.  

Building a System That Fits  

I started by keeping a notebook on the kitchen counter. For two weeks, I wrote down everything we regularly used: milk, onions, bananas, olive oil, yogurt, and other essentials that keep our home running smoothly. 

Then I typed it all into a Word document and alphabetized it. That became my Master Grocery List: a living list of the staples we always need. I print the list and highlight what I need, cross out what I don’t and add what’s not on the list in the margin. 

Every Thursday, I meal plan for the upcoming week (Friday through Thursday). My meals are simple and repetitive: 

• Friday: Pizza or takeout 

• Saturday: Sandwiches or air fryer  

• Sunday: Leftovers or “everyone for themselves" 

• Monday: Cook 2 meals (meal #1 for Monday and Meal #2 for Tuesday) 

• Tuesday: Eat meal #2 

• Wednesday: Eat meal #1 leftovers 

• Thursday: Clean out the fridge and all leftovers 

That means I’m only cooking two meals per week. And everyone is fed. 

Some weeks it’s spaghetti and tacos; other weeks it’s cabbage with sausage, and chicken salad. My goal is that everyone has food they enjoy. It doesn’t have to be their favorites, just something enjoyable. My goal is peace. My goal is doing what works for me and my family. 

Use the Tools God Has Made Available 

I don’t love grocery shopping, so I use Walmart delivery or Aldi pickup. Paying for convenience may not have made sense in earlier seasons, but now it saves time, energy, and stress — and that’s worth it for me. 

We live in an incredible time to be moms. God placed us here, now, with access to tools our mothers and grandmothers never had. Whether it’s AI to help brainstorm ideas or grocery apps that save hours, we can use these as modern-day graces. 

If a process feels peaceful, it’s probably from God. If it feels confusing or chaotic, that’s your sign to simplify. 

Remember, Peace Is the Goal 

You don’t need the “perfect” system. You just need one that works for you right now. As your family changes, so will your systems. 

Don’t worry about comparing yourself to others. For example, at one point, my family had a relationship dynamic which left family dinners feeling very unpleasant and stressful. So, I released myself (and all of us) from that pressure. Instead, I pivoted and adapted, creating other touch points for our family to connect — and that’s ok. God understands that I am really trying my best. 

Peaceful motherhood isn’t about doing it all. It’s about finding rhythms that help you love your people well. 

Even if that means skipping family dinners, ordering groceries online, or serving cereal for dinner on busy nights. 

Because God doesn’t call us to perfection; He calls us to peace. 

And sometimes, peace starts with something as ordinary — and holy — as a grocery list. 

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Copyright 2025 Denise Jelinek
Images: Canva