Update! Update!! Yes..I'm Still Around!!

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time can get by me!! It's been over a month since I've posted and that really wasn't my intentions at all. I can be honest in saying though, that I'm trying terribly hard to let God manage my time and time spent on the computer verses time spent with my family???.....family every time!!!

One thing that has always been precious to me but that has become more precious to me since I went back to work has been time with my family. Sit down dinners that used to happen at least three or four times a week has now came down to every Wednesday and every other Sunday but they are non-negotiable. No other plans. No friends. Just family. EOD!!

It's hard to believe I've been working for almost six months!! Again...how time has flown!! All is good on the job front and as I've posted before, my patients are wonderful!! They truly do make my job a blessing!

Wedding plans are in full swing! With the big day only seven weeks away, those tiny details are becoming hugely important!! We are now at the stage of mailing invitations and planning bridal showers, the first of which is next Friday night!! Such fun and excitement!

I shared that in going back to work, I was struggling within myself about being a Titus 2 wife. I truly struggled with not having the time to make food from scratch or making our own laundry detergent. I confess I've crossed over into the land of convenience. Quick and easy has become my friend and you know what?? It's truly okay.

With most of our meals being DH and myself, it doesn't take that much to feed us supper anyway and boil-in-bag rice and Chunky soup has become my friend!!

Three evenings a week, I get home rather late and it's so simple to boil some rice, heat up a can of soup and pour over it and bake some Pilsbury frozen biscuits in the oven. Within thirty minutes we are eating a hot meal that is filling and cheaper than take out.

I've come to the realization that being a true Titus 2 wife has nothing to do with staying at home and being the best at that. It has everything to do with living the life and being the model that Christ has set before us.

Do I miss my days at home? Yes! I've realized though that this is the course I'm on and it's okay. God CAN and WILL use me and THAT is what I truly want more than anything.

Catching Up with a Blank Brain..

I'm not sure what's going on in my lil' ole' world, but God's just not leading me with too many posts this week. Seems as if the old mind has drawn a blank and I'm just kind of bumping along.
I guess that could be a good thing, no major problems, no major excitement, nothing earth shattering or life changing so, hey!!..think I'll just enjoy this!!!

To catch up on the three things I wanted to change in my lifestyle this year...

1) Doing better with our budget....I'm doing--okay. I was doing real good going all cash, but old habit crept back in and I started using the debit card more and more. Before I know what's going on.....where'd it go??? So tomorrow will find my first stop at Ye Old Bank so I can hit the ATM and say, "Gimme the cash!!". That certainly seems to be the best route for me to go.

2) Losing these 65 pounds. Yes, I have not done so great here. Hadn't really done more than whine about it. But then a few weeks ago spring showed up and I realized that all the cute capri's that I own that fit two years ago...still doesn't fit! So I decided it is way past time to get real and in the last week and a half I'm down 8 pounds!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!! Now, for me this isn't uncommon to drop 10-15 pounds really quick. After that I'll go into "Yea! I lost a ½ pound this week!!" mode and then I'll need big time encouragement!!

3) Spending daily time with my Father....again, hit and miss. What is it with this ole' flesh?? Why do we find it so easy to just roll along and then realize we've let our whole day go by and some days haven't even given time with our Father a second thought. If my kids didn't talk to me all day, I'd be heartbroken. I'll bet He is too.

So there you have it. The reality of me. How I tend to bobble up and down, veer to and fro and just "run around like a chicken with my head cut off" as my Mawmaw would say.

How are you doing with your lifestyle changes this year???

I'm Back and, Oh, the Things I've Learned..

I find it amazing what God can do when I am just quiet and undistracted and able to listen. I've heard it said that God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason...I'm sure this applies to more than the physical ears and mouth as well!

During my 'blogging rest', I learned a few things.

I learned that I stress way too much about my blog.

Ouch. Hard one for me to confess, but it's true. I find myself wondering how others can have hundreds (or even one hundred) followers, and I can't get past fifty. I find myself wondering why my stat counter only goes up 2 or 3 hits a day sometimes. I wonder why what began as a way to learn to be a better writer, somehow minister and just have a little fun has become something that dictates how my day goes.

When that happens, I've learned that I open the door and allow the enemy to attack me. He tells me I don't write well enough, I'm not funny enough...too boring...not godly enough....what makes me think that anyone would want to read what I write...and I found myself believing him!!

I put way too much pressure on myself to post everyday just so I could keep the readers I have.

Wow....

Meanwhile I realized how much was falling by the wayside here at home while I was busy worrying about blog world. Again, wow.

I realized how much this blog.....this computer period...had become a god and was getting in the way of my relationship with the real God.

When I first began my break, I found myself frustrated and irritated, but as the days went by, I found that I had to admit that blogging was running my life instead of the other way around.

Do I want God to use my writing to serve Him? You bet.

Do I want to share and laugh and cry and minister with this blog? You bet.

Do I want to continue blogging? You bet.

I've just got to change some things. So, at least for now, here's where I'm at:

I'm only going to post as God directs. Doesn't mean that everything I post will be about my Father or a relationship with Him..could be something informative, fun or something I just feel led to share, but my steps will be directed by Him. So there may be times when I post everyday or even more than once a day, and there may be times I only post a couple of times a week...but no matter, when I do post, it will be because God has given me the okay.

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives."
Psalm 37:23, NLT

I'm going to be finishing our study on Created to be His Help Meet because I feel that is truly something that God has His hand on, so we will be picking back up where we left off this Friday.

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him."
Genesis 2:18, KJV

If I gain followers...YEAH!!!!!!!! ....if I lose them, then I'm trusting God knows and if it's something I need to change, then He'll show me that as well.

I want God to dictate every area of my life and I don't want to be in charge of any of it. I want everything I do to honor Him and I want it to always be done the way He wants it done..in other words, I want to be in line with HIS will, not mine.

So, I'm rested, my mind is clearer and I'm back in a different way. Prayerfully I will remain in the way God wants me because that is what is most important to me.

With that...........

I do hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were so blessed and even more so because we were able, with the help of our church, to provide a Thanksgiving dinner to a family who is living in a hotel at this point with their five children. Circumstance beyond their control brought them to this place and God put them in path of DD and DS at their job. Our church provided the meal, DD, DS and I prepared it while DH did all the extras that I couldn't while preparing two meals. We were able to deliver it by noon. While we sat down to our meal here at home, we were all even more thankful for the abundant blessings that God has given to us.

We put our Christmas tree up last night and I have to tell you, it was an emotional time for us. Our tree doesn't have a theme or a particular color scheme, it tells a story. The ornaments on our tree tell of the past 26 years of our lives. The good times and the not so good. Handmade ornaments, passed down ornaments and expensive, delicate ornaments. I could look at each one and tell you what was going on in our lives at that time. The emotion that came with each one. Our tree is a smorgasbord of everything, but I wouldn't do anything different.



Finally, I won a give-a-way that Larie hosted over at her blog My Heart Speaks!!! I won a magazine subscription to a magazine called In Her Heart. I've never heard of it before, but it sounds so good and I can't wait until I receive it and can sit down and soak it up! Thanks Lari!!!
I love you all so much and many of you have touched my life in a way that I am eternally thankful.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."
Philippians 1:3, NLT

Studying....Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

I realize that in studying Created to be His Help Meet at the rate of one chapter per week, we will be doing this study for approximately 24 weeks. We could go at this at a much faster rate, but I believe that if we truly want to change and fill our God given rolls as help meet to our husbands, then we need to take things slower and put into practice what we are learning. I hope you agree and stay the course with me as we become better help meets together.

Part 1: The Help Meet

Chapter 10: Reactions Define You

It's often been said that the real you will show up under pressure. Being a wife will reveal that quickly. The person you are reflects how you were brought up, the situation you lived in and your own personality.

Women are notorious for 'putting on a face'. In other words, what people apart from our family sees is not the real us. It's who we want people to perceive us to be. Behind closed doors though, we feel safe and we relax thinking that our family will love us unconditionally, no matter how we act...and that may be true. Ask yourself though, why do we try so hard to impress others when the ones that truly matter to us live with us. Shouldn't their happiness be at the top of the list? Shouldn't they be the ones who benefit from our best?

Many years ago I was reading an article on the best way to handle ourselves in any situation. The writer stated that it was far better to act than to react. I agree.

Mrs. Pearl points out that the attitude that comes out of our mouth began in our thoughts. There are many Scriptures that speak about our thoughts:

"We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."
2 Corinthians 10:5, NLT

"For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander."
Matthew15:19, NLT

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Romans 12:2, NLT

What comes out of our mouth will never change until we change what's in our thoughts.
Hubby is late from work. The kids are cranky, supper is getting colder and colder and you're getting hotter and hotter. Finally he makes it home....an hour late!!!!!!

You have two choices to make. You can attack him as soon as he comes in reminding him that you've been couped up with the kids all day and your just as tired as he is. You can remind him that there is such a thing as a telephone and a call would have been nice. You can jump up on your high horse and tell him that you and the kids ate a hot meal and if he wants his hot, he better know how to use the microwave.

Now that sounds extreme, but I personally know women who would take this road.

Or......when you realize hubby is late, you can begin to pray for him asking God to keep him safe. You can sit the children down to a movie or sit them at the table with color books and crayons and interact with them on a calmer scale while you do everything in your power to keep supper warm. You can go ahead and let the little guys eat and when hubby finally makes it through the door you can greet him with a genuine smile and hug telling him how glad you are he's home safely. You can then sit down with him and eat that lukewarm, dried out meal while he tells you about his day and how he was nearly ready to come home when a huge emergency happened.

If you make choice number one, you reacted. Choice number two, you acted. It was just a matter of having a different thought process.

Instead of being angry, spend that time thanking God for a husband who has a job and who is dedicated to seeing that job done correctly. What an awesome role model for your children and what a wonderful way to let those children know that Dad is just super!!

Our challenge for this week is to reflect over everything we have studied so far and make a list or add to the one we already have, ways that will free our man to who God created him to be.

If you have the book, I recommend doing the Wisdom Test on page 103

Next week: The Nature of Man and Woman

Studying...Created to be His Help Meet

We are studying the book by Debi Pearl, Created to be His Help Meet. Through our study of this book, we are going to learn what it means to be a help meet and actually living the role that God created us as women to fill. I've read this book once before and applied many of the things that Mrs. Pearl spoke of, and it has transformed an already good marriage into nothing short of awesome!! I encourage you to purchase this book and follow along or at the very least, check out the Pearl's website at www.nogreaterjoy.org
Any text taken directly from Mrs. Pearl's book will be highlighted in blue.

Part 1: The Help Meet
Chapter 2: A Merry Heart

Go back. Go way back to the time when you met your DH. How did you act around hi? Were you happy? Giggly? Full of smiles?

I remember how I was: Anxious to see him. Full of smiles when he walked in. I was glad to be with him. It didn't matter what we had planned. I was just happy that it involved being with him.

Fast forward to today. When DH walks through the door, who greets him? Is it that happy, smiling woman he met and fell in love with or the polar opposite?

The point of Mrs. Pearl's book is not to change our man or to let our man 'off the hook'. We cannot change them. They must be willing to change of their own free will. the point of this book and this study is to change us and our way of thinking.

Does your hubby seem withdrawn, out of sorts? Take an honest look at yourself. Ask yourself how have you changed--not how has your man changed. We as women tend to think that we are as we have always been. Fact is, like every other human we change with time as well.

Do you still pretty yourself up for your man? Are you encouraging to him? Does he come home to smiles and laughter, hugs and kisses? If you answer no or not often to even one of these...it's time for you to make a change.

If every time your DH is in your presence all you do is complain, whine and nag...he is not going to want to be around you. Do you like being around your children when they act that way?? I don't!! Honestly...when I'm in that kind of bad, depressing mood, I don't even like being around my own self, why would I expect my DH to desire my company?

So ladies, time for some self examination. Ask yourself are you still showing your man the woman he fell in love with or is he living with a stranger?

If he's living with a stranger, then go before the Father and ask Him to forgive your selfish spirit and replace it with the caring, loving spirit you had long ago.

Get into God's Word and memorize Scripture that encourages you to have joy..to be joyful.
Put on a little make up and brush that hair right before he gets home (don't you feel better when you look better....it shows in more than just the physical!!). Have yummy smells of dinner welcoming him home as well as his favorite drink waiting on the counter.

When your man looks at you, let him see your genuine, soft, I love and appreciate you smile. S[end your day reminding yourself of the wonderful things about your hubby and rebuke those ugly, hateful thoughts that try to creep in.

Mrs. Pearl states, "If you have reason to be hurt or discouraged and yet you sing with thanksgiving, this is a true sacrifice of worship to God."

"Let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and sing joyfully about his glorious acts."
Psalm 107:22, NLT

I hope you've spent the last week finding ways to help your husband. This week's new habit is to now do those things and more to make your husband smile.


Next week: A Thankful Spirit

Join Me at The Well

Happy Tuesday bloggy friends!!

Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement! I am feeling so much better this morning (just a wee bit of a headache is all that's left).

Today I'm posting over at The Well. I'm talking about......the temptation of laziness!!!

I know you're shocked!! I was too when I realized that I can indeed be lazy!!!

Please, join me over at The Well today to see if laziness is plaguing you as well..

Check Out the Cafe`!

While visiting at the Cafe` this morning, I realize today's questions are connected to last weeks....and while I was feeling.....oh... pretty good about myself last week, things have taken a drastic change.

To read last week's post first, click here.

Today Kim has brought me into complete reality with the following questions:

1) On a scale of 1-10, with a 10 representing the strongest, rate how you do with reading and studying the Bible.

Ouch. Honestly, maybe a 5...with many days not making it that high.....

2) why did you rate yourself as you did?

Because...I embarrassingly admit, I "fit in" my Bible time

3) If you are struggling with reading God's Word, make a list of possible stumbling blocks.

Here's how it usually goes with me:

We have 2 teenagers who are both working part time jobs. Many nights these teens don't get home before 10:30. At that time, DH is already dosing on the couch, but he doesn't go to bed because he wants to hear about their day. By the time they come home, share about their day, we pray with them, bed time for us is close to 11:30.
I rise and shine at 6:10, get DH's lunch and morning coffee together...usually with eyes have open.

DH gets up, gets ready for work, grabs his coffee and other things and heads out the door. On these particular mornings I tell myself I'm going to lie back down and rest for just another hour. If I tried to read my Bible, I'd be doing just that.....reading my Bible. Since I can't focus, I'll do it when I get back up. When I get up, I wake the kids, get on this computer, check my e-mail, do a post, check a few other things.

Depending on schedules, we may begin school or the kids may have to head out to work.

Now it's nearly noon and I haven't even really gotten started on the day as far as my household duties go.

The whole time I can feel God's prompting, "Stop. Spend some time with Me. I have so many things to share with you."

"In just a bit God. I just need to get _________ and ___________done first."

Before I know it, it's time to start supper because DH is on his way home. Once DH is home, it's all about him...and I'm glad to do that! I don't mind at all.

The kids start coming home and the whole cycle repeats itself.

These aren't possible stumbling blocks. It's the total truth....how it is.
It's not that I'm ignorant to what I'm doing. I know full well the choices I'm making.

4) Make a list of how we can grow closer to Jesus through the reading and studying of God's Word.

For this ole' gal it's as simple as not listening to the list of lies that satan repeatedly throws at me.

Instead of lying back down, I can wash my face, comb my hair, make my bed, get my blood pumping and within a half hour, I'll be wide awake and able to spend time with my Father.

It's listening to my Father when I hear Him pleading with me to just stop and visit with Him.

It's sacrificing whatever to make Him first and making the time I spend with Him of utmost importance---and remembering that no matter what I sacrifice, it pales in comparison to the sacrifice He made for me.

In complete and total honesty, it's putting Him first instead of Deb---and I am so thankful for this meeting at the Cafe`. It's just another avenue that God has chosen to say, "Hey Deb!! I love you and I miss you!! How about hangin' out with me for a while?? I really love spending time with you and we've got a lot of catching up to do."

To visit the Cafe`, click here.

Try It Tuesday!!

Growing up, I remember my grandmother saying, "If you can't say something good about someone, don't say anything at all."

When she would say that, I would get so frustrated at her!! Of course, when she would say that, I was usually angry with someone or I'd just heard a juicy bit of gossip that I felt I needed to share with others.

Over the years, my mom also said those same words to me and I've passed them on down to my children as well.

In moments of frustration or anger, it is so easy to let our mouths get in gear before our brain has had a chance to process anything.

My grandmother only lived a very short time. She was 54 when she moved to Heaven, but I can honestly never remember her saying an ill word about anybody.

Someone would hurt her feelings to the point of tears and she still wouldn't retaliate.

I remember even telling her, "Mommaw, you shouldn't let them get away with that!!" I was all fired up ready to rip apart the person who had offended my Mommaw but she would just look at me with those tear filled eyes and say, "Baby, they must just be having a bad day."

I couldn't understand how anybody could just let something like that roll off their back.

As a teenager it left my in a perpetual state of wonder.

As an adult, it's a trait I wish I had.

This brings me to today's Try It Tuesday!! challenge. For the next week, if it's not something good or edifying, if it doesn't encourage or lift someone up, then let's keep our mouth shut. Let's make a special effort to focus on the positive that people do, most especially with our children and DH's, and praise and encourage that action.

For me, I do encourage, but I'm so quick to point out that even though you swept the whole floor without being asked, you missed that "little bit right there". How frustrating that must be to hear!!!

" Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." Ephesians 4:29, NLT

" Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ." Philemon 1:20, NLT

These are only a couple of verses that speak to me about my speech and encouraging each other. The Bible program I have on my computer quickly pulled up many verses on edifying and encouraging each other with our speech. Take a few moments to look through your Bible and find the verses that will encourage you.

Begin today to only speak words of encouragement to others. Let's put into practice my grandmother's words.

Beginnning The Day

Today is going to be a busy day.

It's my bi-monthly shopping day.

Got my list ready. Stores to visit with the best deals.

Got my coupons ready. 50¢ here, $1.00 there. Save money, save money, save money.

Mmmmm. Just me and DD today, maybe we'll go out to eat....check coupons. Yep. Got several. Now to choose.

Grab my reusable bags. Can't stand the thought of bringing home more of those plastic bags than I need to. (Of course, I need a few for trash bags in the bathrooms).

Make the bed, straighten the bathroom. Fill the cat food bowl.

Comfy jeans, favorite t-shirt...stick my head out the door to check the temp....oh yeah....flip flops today!!

Yikes!!! Look at those toe nails!!! Quick swipe of some polish...not great, but no one's going to be close enough to my feet to notice..

Gather everything up...got my phone??? Yep. (Whatever did we do before cell phones????) Ooops, about forgot my Skillet cd..

Out the door. Let's go shopping!! Woo Hoo!!

I love a bargain, the thrill of the hunt, the trophy of a dollar saved.

Headin' down the highway...."Watch out!! Are you blind!!??" People really need to pay more attention.

Stopped at the red light that turned green at least three minutes ago. "Hellloooo...waitin' on a different shade of green up there??"

Tummy's rumbling..how about that lunch that we've planned for???

"Are you kidding me??? Out of white meat unless I want to wait 10 minutes??? No, never mind, just give me a thigh." People really ought to be able to do their job correctly if they're going to work with the public.

Hours later....oh my feet hurt and if one more 8 year old rams into me.......Stand in line, hurry up and wait, I'm so ready to go home.

"I'll have to check if I can take internet coupons."

"For real?? Seeing as I have a letter from your corporate office in my wallet stating what's acceptable, is that really necessary?"

Wait, wait, wait.....can't people see I have a lot to do????

Finally, back in the car, look at the gas gauge. Probably should fill up since gas appears to be a little cheaper today. Save money, save money, save money.

"Look at those lines at the pump!!!! Is this the only station in town???"

Wait, wait wait. Put on that plastic smile, make everybody think I've got it all together.

But there's Someone I'm not foolin'.

There is Someone Who I've yet to even say good morning to.

He's tried plenty of times to get my attention today, but I've been about my duties to be a good steward of the monies we've been blessed with.

After all, isn't gathering my coupons and mapping my route so I can save money a wise thing to do??

Isn't gathering those reusable bags to help save the earth a wise thing to do??

Splurging to go out to eat??? Not godly perhaps, but I did use a coupon..so wiser.

Clean house = happy hubby.......Full bowl = happy cat.

Nice toenails?? Well, okay..maybe not so important in the Heavenly realm...

Skillet? Hey!! They're singing about my Jesus!! Can't fuss there!

Folks cutting me off in traffic---shouldn't I have prayed and asked God to keep them safe and to help them through whatever is weighing them down and causing them to be distracted?

Waiting on white meat--shouldn't I have lifted the new employee up in prayer?? What I didn't know is that she had to come to work today and leave a very sick baby at home because hubby got laid off.....they need the money, she's carrying a heavy load.

Why get angry at that cashier about those internet coupons...she was told in a meeting this morning that no matter who let one more counterfeit coupon go through they would be fired.

Griping at the lines at the pump?? Aren't I in line at those same pumps???...for the same reason as everyone else???

Oh my.....why have I been so out of sorts today? "God, where have you been??"

"......waiting on you. All day I've tried to get your attention and you've ran about doing your own thing. Oh.. the blessings you've missed out on today, because you didn't begin your day with Me and see what I had planned. The lives you weren't able to change because you had your own agenda. You've been so blind, so deaf to those around you..thinking you were doing My work, even though you hadn't even given Me any time to share with you what this day held in store for you."

"I'm so sorry...what can I do??"

".....Don't worry about those you missed today. I had other vessels that were ready to be used. What can you do??? Don't rush into your day without checking in with Me. I know the plans I have for you and you will be filled with joy unspeakable as long as your treasures are stored in Heaven. I love you and the greatest thing you can do for me, is love me in return."

Let me ask, is Jesus waiting on you??

Try It Tuesday!!

This Try It Tuesday!! is a place that I know I'm actually going to be regrouping and starting over in...and I'm willing to bet that most of you are the same way.

This Try It Tuesday!! is going to find us revisiting our shopping habits.

How well to we bargain shop?

Are we clipping coupons and using them to their full potential on things we actually use?

Are we making menus and planning in advance for the unexpected so that we aren't grabbing take out?

As with many things in my life, I usually get off to a good start, then find myself..for whatever reason...just...not. I'm not sure if I lose interest~although I wonder why someone would lose interest when it comes to saving money and being a better steward of what God has blessed you with~

You know those lists of good starts:

Keeping my house clean and welcoming at all times.

Saving money.

Staying calm.

Being committed to a healthy diet and plenty of exercise.

Keeping an unwavering quiet time with my Father.

We could go on and on, but the point is...I have to train myself to be committed to these things.

In the months past, I've been able to save several dollars ($25-$45) with coupons. I also do a lot of price matching. Wal Mart Supercenters price match local competitors ads. I do this because it keeps me from running all over town to get the best deal. (Wal Mart does have a certain criteria they follow in order to do a price match. Check with your local Wal Mart to see what it is in your area)

Anyway, in the last couple of months, I've allowed so much "stuff" to get in my way that I haven't done any coupon clipping and very little price matching.

Now, this makes no sense seeing how DH's hours have been reduced and we need those savings more than ever.

So..with today's Try It!! challenge, here I go again. Friday is my day to buy groceries and I'm going to start today reorganizing my coupons and as those ads in the paper comes out, writing down those deals on my grocery list and get busy price matching.

Let me encourage you to take the time this week to do some financial searching and see where you can improve your family's financial situation. Once you see where the improvements need to be, make a plan and stick to it!!

I'm very anxious to hear from you about the changes that you are going to be making in your budgets and spending!

Try It Tuesday!!

It's Tuesday again and that means another Try It Tuesday!!

Spring is in the air!! It's all around us! The grass is turning green, flowers are blooming, birds are singing, the weather is warmer..(of course, you wouldn't know that at my house this morning! It is in the low 30's and we had sleet last night!!)

But..never-the-less, it is spring.

I think it's just in my wiring that when the weather starts warming up and the sun is just brighter and more beautiful, that I feel refreshed and renewed. I feel like I have a new start and I can do anything!

Then I look around the inside of my house.

A little pile here. A little stack here.

I imagine my fear of the cold in the winter has me just shoving things in a corner to avoid going outside to my laundry room and putting them away or loading them up in my car and taking them to the thrift store.

Deciding to spring clean in my house begins with clearing the clutter. And I have A LOT of clutter!!

Clutter can be very overwhelming when you open a dresser drawer to get a pair of socks and have to stuff the stuff back in, in order to shut the drawer back.

Clutter can be very overwhelming when you open a kitchen cabinet and 40 thousand plastic butter bowls fall out on your head.

Clutter can be very overwhelming when you throw yet another magazine on top of a stack that is already leaning and about to come crashing down.

When you look at the whole picture, it's easy to get overwhelmed and say, "Not tackling that today! Maybe tomorrow." Problem is, tomorrow brings yet another butter bowl or magazine.

Let's get started today!! Come on ladies! We can do this!!

Don't let yourself wander through every room in your house telling yourself it can't be done! The main thing is to just begin!!

For me, my living room is the first room I concentrate on. It's where we gather as a family and entertain friends. It's the room we spend the most time in and so I have more than enough time to focus on that clutter.

Begin with that magazine stack or all of those what-nots that are sitting on every table in the room. Honestly ask yourself if you need another glass duck sitting on the table. ( A loooonnggng story for another post...maybe I'll ask DH to write that one)

Do you have to keep the whole magazine just because it has an awesome chili recipe in it??

Remember less is more. Less stuff to clean and maintain means more time you can be spending with DH and the kids or..dare I say it....more time you can spend on yourself!! You could paint those toenails that are soon to be peaking out of some really cool summer sandals!!

The main idea here is to eliminate all of those things you don't need.

Several years ago, I began putting things in a box if I just couldn't part with them. I knew I didn't need or want all of this stuff sitting around. It made my house look messy and small....but I thought I just couldn't live without it! So I decided instead of getting rid of it, I'd put it in a box, that way "when" I remembered why I was keeping it in the first place, could dig it back out.

I can honestly say, to date, I've yet to get something back out of that box.

After several months, I load that box up and take it to the thrift store. We can live without all of this stuff..we really can.

Go through those magazines while your watching tv with your family. Tear out the recipes or articles that are going to change your life and file them in a binder. Then donate those magazines to your local hospital or several doctor offices.

Just begin and don't tell yourself that you have to tackle everything at once.

I encourage you to Try it!! today. Begin by choosing the room that is most important to you to declutter. Set a timer for 30 minutes, put on some Christian rock (or whatever gets you going) and get busy! You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in those 30 minutes and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if you found yourself continuing to work past the time that timer goes off.

Tomorrow, do the same thing in another room of your house. I'm sure if you do this each day that by the time we gather for the next Try It Tuesday!! you'll be enjoying a clutter-free house and quite possibly choosing a new polish to paint those toenails!!

Try It Tuesday!!

It's Tuesday and time to challenge yourself and try something new, or maybe something that you generally don't do.

For me, this week's Try It Tuesday would be the latter.

Proverbs 15:1 says,

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." NKJV

The NLT puts it this way,

"A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare."

Any idea where we're going this week?

I wish I could tell you I'm gentle and soft spoken by nature. I'm not.

I am a quiet person if I don't know you, but around those I know--gentle and soft spoken would not be me.

I read an article one time about how we tend to treat strangers better than our family. If we're out and about and a stranger accidentally bumps into us, they apologize (usually) and we say, 'Oh, no problem', pick up our dropped things and move on. But if we are with our children and one of them bumps into us and we drop our things, they apologize (usually) and we say something like this, 'Be careful, would you!! You saw my hands were full!! Now help me pick this stuff up and watch where you're going!".

Hmmm..do we see a problem here?

And what about our husbands? Maybe we've asked them to fix the leaky toilet or to bring the trash cans back down to the house. Maybe we asked them to pick up a loaf of bread on their way home from work or to change the light bulb in the hallway. For whatever reason those things didn't get done.

Maybe DH hasn't had the time yet to fix the toilet. Maybe he's had a hard day and the trash cans and the bread just slipped his mind. Maybe we're out of light bulbs or it's raining outside and he's waiting on it to stop so he won't get soaked going to get the ladder.

Even though I try hard (and usually succeed) to not get upset, if I'm honest, somewhere deep inside me I'm just a bit irked because things aren't getting done on my time frame and sometimes my mouth flies open and there go those words spoken in anger--'You know that the garbage is piling up because the trash cans are at the end of the driveway, right?' or 'How do I make grilled cheese sandwiches with no bread?'

I can honestly say that when my mouth has jumped ahead of my brain and those angry words came flying out, what followed was never good...never positive.

After my angry words I usually see hurt faces and drooping shoulders. Those are often followed by snippy attitudes or hateful, angry words from those I've come unleashed on.

How is that God honoring?? Do I like it when folks talk to me in anger? Not a chance!!

So for this week, let's begin today to put into practice the art of not saying things in anger.

DH forget the bread? It's okay. We've all got enough in our pantry to improvise or make something else.

Tiny tot #1 spill their juice for the 3rd time while tiny tot #2 jumps up and down in the spilled mess? It's okay. Just remove those tiny tots and clean up the mess.

Teenager doesn't hear you ask them to empty the dishwasher because their MP3 player is attached to their ears? Just wave at them and get their attention.

But whatever we do....no angry words.

Explain to DH that you'll just whip up something else. Hug those tiny tots and tell them you'll read a story together once the mess is cleaned up. After waving at the teen and making your request, thank them for emptying that dishwasher.

I'm sure we'll be amazed at the difference in our families and even in ourselves when we refuse to speak in anger or frustration.

My family may even report me abducted.......

Keep me up with how you do this week and remember what Philippians 4:13 says....

" I can do ALL things through Christ Who strengthens me."

Perfect Beauty

Our lesson last night in my teenage girl class at church talked about outer beauty. We've had a couple of such lessons focusing on pressures to be thin and beautiful, and what the world's idea of a beautiful woman is.

As I've sat and listened to these girls talk about the pressures--not only from friends but even from their own families--to be thin, my heart breaks.

It's no wonder that our girls can't love themselves just as God created them.

I've heard..their hips are too big, their tummy is too big. Their teeth aren't straight enough, their nose is too big. Their eyes are too close together, their eyebrows are too bushy. They are too tall, too short...the list goes on and on.

As grown women, we are not immune to this ourselves. All around us on tv and magazine covers we see 40, 50 and 60 something women who don't look a day over 25. Then we look in the mirror and see the sags, bags, wrinkles and gray hair and wonder what in the world is wrong with us!!

In the world's eyes, I'm in desperate need of shedding about 40 pounds..at least...getting a face lift (among other things lifted..), a new hair cut and a serious dye job. Then, of course, in accomplishing that, I'll need a new wardrobe and who knows what else to make me feel like a real woman..an acceptable specimen of the female race.

Frankly, I'm fed up with that mentality.

In studying my lesson for my class, I came upon this scripture in 1 Peter 3: 1-5--

"In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over by observing your pure and reverent lives. Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands." NLT...(emphasis mine)

I can't find anywhere in God's Word that He emphasizes outward beauty. It's always about inward beauty--having the fruit of the Spirit and living a life that mirrors Christ.

True beauty comes from a gentle and quiet spirit--not a loud, boisterous, look-at-me personality.

I'll be the first to admit, I like to look nice outwardly. But, to me, that means clean clothes that fit. Tidy hair and a happiness from within that is so strong it beams outward.

I've notice that when I'm on the same page with God, when I'm in His will..no matter what I look like outwardly--I still feel beautiful!! It's because that kind of beauty is coming from the Holy Spirit and that is perfect beauty. You can't buy that kind of beauty in the cosmetics aisle or at the beauty salon or under the knife of the best plastic surgeon in the world!

When we let go of the world's idea of beauty and get on board with God's idea of it, we'll notice a change in our attitude and that will flow over into our relationships. It will cause us to stop having bad hair days and then taking that out on everyone we meet.

I challenge you to pick up your Sword today and find some verses on beauty. Study them and commit them to your mind and heart and begin to live God's version of beautiful instead of the world's.

Try It Tuesday!!

To begin with a confession....I have failed miserably with last week's Try It Tuesday!!.....It seems like I couldn't get my kitchen cleaned before going to bed no matter how hard I tried. I think I was only successful twice last week....I'm glad that Try It Tuesdays are geared toward a lifestyle change. (It may take me that long to accomplish that!!!)

Moving on...

I've been thinking a while on how as wives and mothers, we tend to put ourselves on the back burner.

We are awesome caregivers and teachers and house cleaners and wash women and chauffeurs and doctors and the list goes on and on...but do you know what we're not awesome at???

Carving out even 15 minutes in our day..just for us..

SHHHH.....Can you hear the gasping?? It's coming from one of two groups.

Group one is gasping because they're short of breath from trying to be everything for everybody.

Group two is gasping because they believe they're reading the words of a nut who honestly thinks they can find 15 minutes in their day.

It can be done though. Not only can it be done, it has to be done.

We, as women, give so much of ourselves everyday. A little bit here, a little bit there until we quite literally feel like we can give no more. Do you know what you have when you have a worn out, give out woman???

Someone who is negative, depressed, uptight, angry, stressed...Someone whom nobody else wants to be around. (There are times I'd walk away from my own self if I could!!)

We need to understand that it's incredibly important to take some time for ourselves every day. It may only be 15 minutes, but that 15 minutes will change our day completely.

I'm not talking about the time you take with God....that's God's time.

I'm not talking about the time you spend while waiting on little Suzie after school, or little Johnny after soccer practice...that time is focused on little Suzie or little Johnny and what you need to do once you pick them up.

I'm not talking about the time you spend sitting in the Dr's office or waiting in line or anything like that.

I'm talking about 15 or even 30 minutes a day that you spend on you.

In 15 minutes you can enjoy your favorite drink (oh, yes, iced green tea with raspberry!!) and read a book or look through your favorite magazine.

In 15 minutes you can take a walk or just sit on the porch and enjoy the quiet.

In 15 minutes you can put your feet up and just lay your head back and close your eyes and be silent.

When can you do this?? It depends on your schedule, but I know that if we try hard enough, we can find just 15 minutes.

After just that few minutes you're able to regroup, take a breath and see things a little more clearly. You will notice the change in you and so will your family.

So, are you willing to Try It??

We spend so much time lovin' on others, spend a little time this week lovin' on yourself and let me know what happens!!

Redeeming the Time

I can't explain it.

Have you ever just had an urgent spirit? You know that God is speaking to your heart--you know that He is encouraging..desiring you to get closer to Him.

You can't explain it, but you just know that the clock is ticking and you can't play games anymore. You're either in or you're out. No more straddling the fence.

That's where I am.

If you read my Thankful Thursday post, you've gotten a little insight into the fact that there have been some struggles going on in our household.

Now, not anything over the top..nothing more than many people are facing right now. DH has had a reduction in hours, DS trying to prove he's a man at 16...not doing anything we've thought about calling the police for-- :o} --just things that are causing us to tighten the reigns on him.

The blessing...the hope...the knowledge that God is faithful, lies in DD who has spent around a year and a half in the wilderness. (Apparently DS has forgotten what it was like when his sister was there....) In the last 2 months, we have been so blessed to watch our strong headed prodigal come home..and what a homecoming it's been!!!

This girl is so in love with and so on fire for our Savior that she's literally contagious!!

Please don't misunderstand. We have good kids. I wouldn't trade our life with them for anything. They absolutely know how to make their mother smile and they are a joy to be around. But don't we all want our children to be on fire for, sold out to Jesus??

Within myself though, going over my life in the last year, praying, asking God to open my eyes, to reveal to me His perfect will for my life at this time--to purge me and show me my sin that I can confess it and stand before Him, a vessel ready to be used. That's where I'm at.

Something God has repeatedly shown me is that I waste too much time. It's something I've known, but have refused to confront. I mean, the house is clean, the laundry is caught up..most of the time..meals are cooked..but in my asking God to reveal things to me, I have to be honest with myself. I do waste a lot of time.

It seems as if I've allowed Satan to make me easily distracted. Something I used to not be. That has got to stop.

I've touched on prioritizing in prior posts and on not wasting time, but I have to step up and begin to "practice what I preach".

I love blogging and I love reading other blogs and praying for those people who share their needs. I have made some wonderful friends through the blogging world that I'm positive God has placed in my life. I don't intend to stop blogging unless God just shows me that's what He wants. He has shown me though, that I am spending too much time on this computer and therefore, wasting precious time that He wants me to use in other ways. Such as......

With the reduction in DH's hours, the dryer is a luxury. I've got to stop wasting time and get that laundry washed and on the line. I can't wait and mosey around and then get it out on the line around 2 in the afternoon and expect it to be dry by 5. I've got to get it out early.

I've got to get more creative in my cooking and I've got to do it on a smaller budget. That means better planning, even more cooking from scratch and that means not waiting until 3:30 or 4 in the afternoon to decide a meal.

My family loves having snacks on hand and that means I need to make time to bake these things.

I've got to stop making unnecessary trips into town..for whatever. Unless DH has asked me to pick something up for him, I've got to learn that most things can wait. For me a trip into town will usually end up in spending money (and time) that doesn't need spent.

With DS, I've got to ask myself...what are my children truly seeing in me?? Are they seeing a Mom totally sold out and committed to God, spending time with Him because she desires to be with her Savior, or are that seeing a Mom who tries to "fit God in"? Do I speak to them in love with a gentle voice or do I get all "psycho" (their word)?

In asking God to purge me and reveal to me, it's been a little brutal---done in love and in answer to prayer--but brutal...and I'm thankful for that. It's how I want God to be with me...actually, it's how He needs to be with me. I'm a stubborn daughter and truthfully, brutal honesty is what gets my attention.

I've been forced to back up and ask myself how many of the trials that I go through are self induced?

I believe this is where the urgency comes in.

I can't be lukewarm any longer.

I have aging parents, of which both are lost. I can't waste anymore time.

I have a sister who is out of fellowship with God, I can't waste anymore time.

I have in-laws who are lost and out of fellowship with God. I can't waste anymore time.

I have a son who is at a crossroads, I can't waste anymore time.

Our income has been cut, I can't waste anymore time.

I have 3 sets of dear friends whose marriages are in trouble, I can't waste anymore time.

I read the headlines and listen to the news and can't believe how quickly we've come to this place, I can't waste anymore time.

People all around me are searching for hope. They are searching for Who I have, but do they know I have Him?

How quickly, how easily Satan creeps in when we grow complacent, lazy, wasteful.

"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do."

Ephesians 5:15-17, NLT (bold emphasis mine)

So, as I truly grab hold of a faithful God~as He takes me places that may stretch my faith~as He shows me His will for my life, I choose to hold on to this Scripture...

"Therefore, since we (I) have been made right in God's sight by faith, we (I) have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us (me) ."

Romans 5:1, NLT (bold print mine)

So I ask, how are you redeeming your time??

Only a Little Time

Something happened yesterday that convicted my heart and got me to thinking and doing some self evaluation.

I was doing some shopping at Wal Mart with DD yesterday Nothing special, just buying a few groceries and enjoying some good conversation.

We were in the aisle that had tomato sauce and paste. Canned tomatoes that were sliced, diced and stewed. Spaghetti sauce, noodles, etc...

I noticed a man standing in front of the tomato sauce and paste and I could tell he had a very frustrated look on his face. I also needed tomato sauce and so as I got closer to him, I could hear him mumbling under his breath about, "...this isn't spaghetti sauce!!".

It was easy to tell he was in a hurry and most certainly out of his comfort zone.
I asked him if he needed some help and he quickly told me he needed some spaghetti sauce, but that he couldn't find it. I showed him that it was at the opposite end of aisle. He thanked me, and went to the other end.

I found my tomato sauce and while I was putting it in the buggy, I noticed he was getting frustrated all over again. He turned to me and DD and asked which one of these (pointing to the sauces) was spaghetti sauce. DD showed him that from "here to here" was spaghetti sauce and that it just depended on what kind he wanted.

"I just need the kind with the screw on lid."

DD showed him the many different types with screw on lids. He grabbed up a jar, held it out and asked if that was a screw on lid. We told him yes, he thanked us and was quickly on his way.

This entire event probably took less than 3 minutes yet made a positive difference in this man's day and I felt blessed to be able to help him.

Then I felt the Holy Spirit begin to stir inside me, asking me how many times I'd totally ignored the chance to help someone around me.

You know what I'm talking about..we get in such a hurry, or we are so wrapped up in what we need to get done, that we are totally oblivious to the people around us.
How long does it take to do a kindness for someone we don't even know?

How long does it take to make a positive, Christ-like difference in someone's day?

I will be transparent with you and tell you that I've tried to justify not helping someone because "I'm already behind! Besides, they'd ask if they needed help." Maybe they would, maybe they wouldn't. Fact is, if I notice they need help, they shouldn't have to ask for it.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

If the Holy Spirit is in me then kindness should be a by-product of that....not even something that needs to be thought out before acted upon.

Yes, it's true that we are all busy, but when we get so busy that we can't help out another person, then we obviously have our priorities in the wrong place.

"Instead, be kind to each other....." Ephesians 4:32 NLT

I can't imagine, nor do I read in God's Word anywhere, that Jesus was too busy to notice His fellow man. He was an encourager to people He didn't even know.

"You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." Philippians 2:5 NLT

So, I've decided that part of my prayers are going to be that I would be more aware of the people around me. Let's make sure that we're not so behind or in such a hurry that we feel we don't have the time to show someone Jesus.

My Shopping Trip Results

I just wanted to share how I did on my shopping this week.

We weren't out of everything, but we were almost out of meats. So, of course, a good portion of that spending was on meats.

I started with $240.

My first stop, as usual, was at our Bent-n-dent. This actually wasn't a good week there to rack up on some bargains. I picked up 10 more cans of tomatoes at 39¢ a can, peanut butter at $1.39, milk at $2.98 a gallon (I bought 3 gallons) and a few other odds and ends. I spent $27.94 and saved $4.80.

I spent $1.59 at Dollar General for some liquid potpourri (remember that's my weakness......), $18.36 at the Dollar Tree. I bought mainly cleaners, anniversary cards (I still send cards snail mail and noticed I was out of anniversary cards..), toiletries, a few items for an upcoming baby shower and chocolate frosting.

From there I went to Winn Dixie where I spent $10.80 on pop. Yes, we drink pop. Yes, we like pop. Yes, we could save money if we didn't buy pop, but I haven't made it to that place yet. I did buy our pop on sale and saved $4.45 though!! :o)

A trip to Wal Mart for those things we just can't live without...really... I picked up some of the much needed meats as well and spent $94.45. I didn't use many coupons this week (remember, if you don't need what you have a coupon for, then you're not really saving) so I only saved $1.25 with coupons. I priced matched leg quarters, saving $2 a bag (I bought 3 bags). Fresh tomatoes were on sale, 50¢ saved there. Total savings at Wal Mart, $7.75.

A trip to Sav A Lot where I spent $48.03 and finally a quick stop at Food World for potatoes. They were on sale for $1.49 a 5# bag. I bought 2 bags and a few other items on sale. Spent $7.52, saved $7.00.

Total spending: $208.69!! Total saving: $24.00!!

I was so thrilled at not having spent the whole $240. That means if meats are on sale this week I can purchase them. If not, I can apply that to the next grocery shopping day or put it in savings!

I seem to be doing better at staying under budget, but I'd love to see my 2 week spending be under $200. Once I achieve that, I'd like to try to get to $175. Of course, that's going to take a lot of planning and no lying back down in the mornings (see earlier post) so that I can cook more from scratch and redeem the time God has given me in a way that will please Him.

How about you? Do you have a grocery budget? How are you doing on your spending? I'd love to hear what you do to make those hard earned dollars go farther.

Blessings......

Messed Up Priorites

The last two mornings have played havoc on my schedule.

Now before I share what's been going on, promise me you won't roll your eyes or snicker and giggle or just outright have a good belly laugh at how pitiful I am....Okay.....you promised.

I get up around 6:10 in the morning. Head out to the kitchen and turn on a light, on to the thermostat and turn it up a couple of degrees. To the living room where I turn on another light and turn on the news--DH rides a motorcycle and he likes to hear the weather before he heads to work. About 6:20, I go in and wake up DH. I fix his coffee while he gets ready for work. He sits for a minute listening to the weather and drinking his coffee, then puts on his jacket (and riding gear if he's taking the bike) and heads off to work. This is in the neighborhood of 6:45.

Now...

Normally I stay up and have my quiet time and then check out some blogs that I read and do a post of my own. But there are days when I just can't seem to function and I go back to bed!! Yes, I go back to bed at 7a.m. and go to sleep!! Kind of pathetic ain't it?? Going back to bed at 7 a.m....

I've done that the last two mornings and it has shown! What's the first thing that got left out?? You betcha! My time with God. Next thing that gets left out? My blogging. Then everything I need to get done has been shoved back at least 2 hours and before I know it, it's 2 o'clock and I don't even know what I want to fix for supper!!

And to be honest, I don't like it when my day goes like that. I feel like I have wasted so much.

Here's what I've noticed happens:

Being frugal goes out the window. Yes, I do buy convenience foods to have handy when an unexpected something comes up and I can't make a meal from scratch. Even at it's high price, it's cheaper than going out to eat. But on these days where I've literally lost half the day, instead of cooking from scratch, I'm taking that convenient stuff out of the freezer and making it for dinner.

Laundry and housework suffers. Living in the south, I can often hang my laundry on the line even in the winter. Usually I hang it out one day and bring it in the next. Not running that dryer saves a lot of money. When I lie back down, instead of hanging out that laundry, I'm chunking it in the dryer so I can get caught up. It takes a lot less time to chunk in the dryer than to hang up a load of towels and washcloths outside.

Our homeschooling suffers. I have a Junior and Senior this year and so my work has lifted somewhat. They are very independent learners, just coming to me when they come across something they don't understand. But.....they depend on Mom to wake them up (which I don't mind..to me it's one of the perks of our homeschooling). When I lay back down though, I don't wake them up as I should and they are behind!

And the worst consequence of all...I can tell that my day is more stressful simply because I've set Jesus up on a shelf. Put Him off because I have so much more earthly stuff to accomplish. You know, what if someone drops in? I can't let them see the dishes flowing out of the sink and the garbage traveling up the wall. I can't let them see the hamper overflowing onto the floor and the kitty litter trail. But I can make God wait. He'll understand. I mean, He knows I'm tired and I just need a little more sleep. He wants me to feel better and be more awake and less grouchy...but, thing is, I don't feel better. I'm more stressed and grouchy.

So that's why you haven't really heard from me the last few days. Dare I say it??? Laziness. No excuses. Just plain laziness.

Now, I can sit and wallow in this and wish I'd spent the last few days differently. Since I can't go back and change that, I have to let it go, pick myself up out of my little pity pit and march on. Make the most out of the time I have left before DH and DS get home from work. Get things accomplished...including my time with God.

Yes, I wrote this post before having my quiet time..priorities waaaay messed up today.....but no more wallowing. It's where satan would have me stay, and I'm just not going to give him that satisfaction....

Blessings.....

Do You "Have" To or "Get" To??

DS was a sight to see when he got home from his first day "on the job" today. He wasn't tired, discouraged or frustrated. He was smiling, laughing, talking about all the new people he met, what he did while he was there and looking forward to the next shift he has to work..which is tomorrow.

I listened to him talk about all the "neat" equipment and how there was a certain way to bread the chicken and drop it in the oil (he's working at Zaxby's by the way....did I share what happened to his "job" at McDonald's??)...I listened to him talk about a guy he met who goes to a sister church. He was so excited to be working along side another Christian guy! He was so concerned about getting out into the work force and dealing with people who believed nothing like he does.

As he talked I found myself thinking if we could all have his attitude, how much better off we'd be.

He didn't care that he only worked 3½ hours. He was so thankful to just have a job.

He doesn't care that he's making minimum wage, he's just thankful to have a paycheck.

He doesn't care that his clothes were covered in flour and that his hands were covered in "chicken goo"..he's just thankful.

How many times have I found myself complaining about something that I need to be doing around the house instead of just being thankful that I can.

"Laundry again?? What is that...6 loads today??" My attitude should be..Laundry again?? How blessed I am to have a husband and children to wash laundry for. How blessed I am to have a washing machine in my laundry room instead of having to lug the wash to the laundromat. How blessed I am to have a dryer sitting beside it so I don't have to stand outside in 25º weather to hang it on the line. How blessed I am to be able to walk to the machine, get the laundry out and use my arms and hands to fold it up.

"Look at that sink full of dirty dishes! I just got the kitchen cleaned up and it's a mess again!" I should be saying, Thank You Father that I have a family to cook for and food to cook. Thank You for dishes to eat off of, and hot running water to clean them up when they get dirty. Thank you for the friends that drop by and the food that I can offer them while they're here.

"School books all over the house! Can't those kids put up anything??" Instead it should be..Thank You that I am blessed to homeschool my kids and be involved in everything in their lives. Thank You that my kids are still here with me to enjoy and watch and listen to and teach. Thank You for providing the monies needed to buy those books and supplies.

Thank You for the job my husband has that takes such good care of our family and through You supplies everything that I've mentioned in this post.

I heard an evangelist say one time that it's all in how we approach things. Do we say "I have to go to church" or "I get to go to church"? Do we say "I have to wash dishes" or "I get to wash dishes"? Do we say "I have to do laundry" or "I get to do laundry"?

Funny how changing one little word completely changes how we look at the whole picture.

So how about you?

Do you have to go do something, or do you get to??

Blessings.....

Does "Convenient" Cost More?

I was reading an article today that I found quite interesting. It was one of those articles that reminded you of what you already knew, but didn't practice, but complained about because things are the way they are because you don't do what you already know you should do! Following me so far???

This article was talking about convenience foods and the fact that they are not frugal or thrifty at all. They gave the example of the fact that this family was coming up on a very busy two weeks and so they went to the store and bought bottled water and string cheese to be used only when they were in travel mode and had to have something in a hurry. Turned out that in that first week, everyone was in a hurry and so just grab a bottle of water and some cheese and head out the door. And guess what?? There wasn't anything left for the next week!!

I had to smile. I couldn't believe someone had taken the time and effort to follow my family around and then write an article on us!

No...really. This happens on a very regular basis in our house. I'll buy bottled water, or cans of pop. I'll buy snack cakes or some type of on the go bar and make the grand announcement, "These are for on the go only!! When you're here at home, eat or drink something else." Then at different times during the week, I'm quite certain I must be losing my mind because I see people eating and drinking the very things I'm pretty sure I told them not to. I'm sure I'm losing it because I will ask these people, "Don't you remember me telling you these were for on the go only?", and they'll look at me completely serious and say, "No. You didn't say that." (Pulling my hair here....)

We have 4,681,292 sports bottles in our house. Well...maybe not that many...it's more like 8 or 9 but when they are whacking me in the head as I open the cabinet door, it sure feels like more....

Why in the name of all that is cheap, can't we....can't I....grab that sports bottle, head over to the fridge fill it with ice and water, screw on the lid and head out the door? Does it really take that long to do that?? See, I'm as guilty of ignoring me as my family is.

How hard is it to get a plastic bowl with a lid and put some pretzels in it? Or even....some cookies!!! Got my water, got my cookies and I'm out the door. Didn't cost those jokingly "convenient" prices and if I get hungry or thirsty, I'm armed and dangerous for a fraction of the cost.

I don't know about you, but again, for me, it boils down to laziness. I mean after all, it takes about 2 minutes longer to fill up that sports bottle and bowl than it does to grab a "convenient" water bottle and on the go bar. Hey! If I'm that pressed for time, then there is a lot more action I need to take in different areas of my life before I ever get to the frugal part.

We'll take tomorrow for instance. DD has a doctor appointment at 1. I know this. I also know that in the neighborhood of 11:30 I'll be grading those last few papers and getting ready to go. I'll be too busy to worry about that sports bottle. So, why not, before things get crazy, get my bottle, fill it with ice and water and set it in the fridge?? That ice isn't going to melt quickly sitting in the fridge and even if it does...uhhh..it's water...

So now, when we're running out the door I can just open that fridge, grab my water and never miss a beat.

How our grandmothers and great grandmothers managed without all of this convenience is beyond me.

We've got to quit kidding ourself if we're going to get serious about living a more frugal life and getting rid of the debt that is keeping us in bondage.

So let's pass on the bottled water and pre-packaged snacks. Anyone need a sports bottle??

Blessings.......