If you would like to enter for a chance to win the family organizer, click on this link and leave a comment before 8:00 PM Mountain Time on Tuesday!
And have a great weekend remembering those heroes who have sacrificed for our country and also enjoying time with your families!
Friday, May 23, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Casting My Cares on Him
I'll admit that for a couple months I have felt anxiety rising in my heart, in my mind and in my communication with others, focusing on the circumstances of life rather than the sovereignty of God. And we aren't experiencing dire straits here, just nagging worries and getting financially pinched a bit tighter every month even though we are trying our best to live sensibly.
As it turned out, I missed church this past Sunday to stay with our younger kiddos who were under the weather and unable to go to church. So, with the rest of the family tucked in bed tonight I started listening to this week's sermon in the comfort of our living room with an iced tea in my hand. (I do enjoy some benefits of this information age, and listening to sermons online is one of them.) This portion of Scripture is just what I needed to hear again (1 Peter 5:7). Without consciously noticing, I had stopped believing the Gospel and had begun to look to my performance or our bank account balance or any of a number of other things to make me feel secure. I needed this reminder tonight of His grace, His sovereignty, His love and care for me.
If you are able, please take time to listen to the sermon or download it to your MP3 player. We all need to preach the Gospel to ourselves and this is one way to do it.
As it turned out, I missed church this past Sunday to stay with our younger kiddos who were under the weather and unable to go to church. So, with the rest of the family tucked in bed tonight I started listening to this week's sermon in the comfort of our living room with an iced tea in my hand. (I do enjoy some benefits of this information age, and listening to sermons online is one of them.) This portion of Scripture is just what I needed to hear again (1 Peter 5:7). Without consciously noticing, I had stopped believing the Gospel and had begun to look to my performance or our bank account balance or any of a number of other things to make me feel secure. I needed this reminder tonight of His grace, His sovereignty, His love and care for me.
If you are able, please take time to listen to the sermon or download it to your MP3 player. We all need to preach the Gospel to ourselves and this is one way to do it.
100th Post & a Giveaway!
It has taken me far longer to reach my 100th post than I imagined it would, but such is life....
To mark the occasion and spread some blog love, I would like to give away a copy of Mom's Ultimate Family Organizer. It is a great tool for keeping the details of your family life organized including calendars, to-do lists, medical information and so much more. I like it so much I'm tempted to keep if for myself...but I won't.
To enter to for a chance to receive this and some other little surprises, please leave a comment. If your name is not clickable or I don't know you in real life, please include your e-mail address as well (throw in extra spaces or whatever to avoid spam). I will conduct the random drawing on Tuesday, May 27th around 8 pm (Mountain Time) so please enter before then. I would be happy to ship to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Enjoy!
To mark the occasion and spread some blog love, I would like to give away a copy of Mom's Ultimate Family Organizer. It is a great tool for keeping the details of your family life organized including calendars, to-do lists, medical information and so much more. I like it so much I'm tempted to keep if for myself...but I won't.
To enter to for a chance to receive this and some other little surprises, please leave a comment. If your name is not clickable or I don't know you in real life, please include your e-mail address as well (throw in extra spaces or whatever to avoid spam). I will conduct the random drawing on Tuesday, May 27th around 8 pm (Mountain Time) so please enter before then. I would be happy to ship to U.S. and Canadian addresses. Enjoy! Look for a blog roll coming soon.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Tagged
I'm just now catching up on some blogging so here go some memes which I was tagged for a while back.
Jenny at Frugal Vegcafe tagged me to share my 5 top budget busters. Many of our budget busters have lost their effectiveness since we've gone to actually making an "on paper, on purpose" budget and using the cash envelope system, but we still have a long way to go. Here they are, in no particular order.
1. Buying stuff we don't need because the price is so good. This is one reason I don't think I need to be a weekly Goodwill shopper or shop frequently at all. The more you shop, the more you find and buy, even if you didn't you know you needed the item before you went shopping. Or that is the way it has worked for me anyway.
2. Disorganization. The biggest way I see this play out is in not getting the day started early enough when we have outings and errands. Because I'm not organized to get us out the door early, we complete an errand and then it is lunch time and we still have more stops, leaving me with the choice of eating out (usually drive-thru) or doing the errands another time, which ends up using more gas. Also, not keeping up on cutting and filing my coupons. I know I miss some great deals because I'm not current on these.
3. Shopping without a detailed list. It is way too easy to get sidetracked and buy more than we need for that week and perhaps not enough of the things we really do need, which can create additional trips to the store in subsequent days. Shopping is actually more fun when I am on top of the game, have a clear list with all coupons filed and clipped and can get in and out of the store quickly. Also, while shopping alone in the evening seems best for my sanity, it really is a trade-off since I am tired and not as clear-headed by the end of the day to be making decisions....even about the most minute things....like should I buy 1 bottle of ketchup on sale or 2?
4. Indecisiveness. Sometimes I just can't make decisions, even about unimportant things, then either have to return an item I decide I don't like (wasted time and potentially gas) or go to the store a second time because I passed on an item the first time around and decided that I did, indeed, want that one after all.
5. Rising costs of fuel and food. This month our total for gasoline will surpass our grocery total. (Hmmm...so our cars are eating more than we are?!) The essentials for living are just overall going up in price, from gasoline, to wheat kernels, to diapers, to milk, and the list goes on. We can't control prices so our family needs to choose wisely about what and how much to consume of a variety of goods, without going backwards nutritionally. I know everyone is in the same boat here so I know this is not some unique problem to me...but it is really hurting the bottom line.
And then Rebecca tagged me for a one word/one phrase meme. Here goes.
You’re feeling: Hopeful
To your left: window and nothing on the floor...how peaceful!
On your mind: if and when and how our house will sell
Last meal included: hamburgers, chips and dip, BBQ beans, homemade vanilla ice cream
You sometimes find it hard to: leave the house with three young kids adequately fed, clothed, presentable and with the items we need with us, while also leaving the house behind us in decent shape
The weather: Getting warmer....too bad we discovered today that there is something wrong with our whole heating and cooling system, but this will be addressed ASAP!
Something you have a collection of: some Willow Tree figurines
A smell that cheers you up: pineapple, strawberries or coffee
A smell that can ruin your mood: yucky diaper
How long since you last shaved: this morning
The current state of your hair: shoulder length, nondescript, not loving it, but it'll do
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
Your skill with chopsticks: ummm....none
Which section you head for first in a bookstore: I head for crafts, sewing, bargain books or magazines.
Something you're craving: a trip to British Columbia (to see the friends and family)
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: I wish there was an option I could fully support
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: none
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: bedroom
You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: mom, but now I'm having my doubts
Something that freaks you out: Scary movies...can't watch 'em
Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Chick-Fil-A
You have never: lived alone
You never want to: have my children go hungry (due to lack of food, not their own pickiness)
If you'd like to join in, you're it! Or if you want to chime in on a few of the questions, fire away in the comments!
Jenny at Frugal Vegcafe tagged me to share my 5 top budget busters. Many of our budget busters have lost their effectiveness since we've gone to actually making an "on paper, on purpose" budget and using the cash envelope system, but we still have a long way to go. Here they are, in no particular order.
1. Buying stuff we don't need because the price is so good. This is one reason I don't think I need to be a weekly Goodwill shopper or shop frequently at all. The more you shop, the more you find and buy, even if you didn't you know you needed the item before you went shopping. Or that is the way it has worked for me anyway.
2. Disorganization. The biggest way I see this play out is in not getting the day started early enough when we have outings and errands. Because I'm not organized to get us out the door early, we complete an errand and then it is lunch time and we still have more stops, leaving me with the choice of eating out (usually drive-thru) or doing the errands another time, which ends up using more gas. Also, not keeping up on cutting and filing my coupons. I know I miss some great deals because I'm not current on these.
3. Shopping without a detailed list. It is way too easy to get sidetracked and buy more than we need for that week and perhaps not enough of the things we really do need, which can create additional trips to the store in subsequent days. Shopping is actually more fun when I am on top of the game, have a clear list with all coupons filed and clipped and can get in and out of the store quickly. Also, while shopping alone in the evening seems best for my sanity, it really is a trade-off since I am tired and not as clear-headed by the end of the day to be making decisions....even about the most minute things....like should I buy 1 bottle of ketchup on sale or 2?
4. Indecisiveness. Sometimes I just can't make decisions, even about unimportant things, then either have to return an item I decide I don't like (wasted time and potentially gas) or go to the store a second time because I passed on an item the first time around and decided that I did, indeed, want that one after all.
5. Rising costs of fuel and food. This month our total for gasoline will surpass our grocery total. (Hmmm...so our cars are eating more than we are?!) The essentials for living are just overall going up in price, from gasoline, to wheat kernels, to diapers, to milk, and the list goes on. We can't control prices so our family needs to choose wisely about what and how much to consume of a variety of goods, without going backwards nutritionally. I know everyone is in the same boat here so I know this is not some unique problem to me...but it is really hurting the bottom line.
And then Rebecca tagged me for a one word/one phrase meme. Here goes.
You’re feeling: Hopeful
To your left: window and nothing on the floor...how peaceful!
On your mind: if and when and how our house will sell
Last meal included: hamburgers, chips and dip, BBQ beans, homemade vanilla ice cream
You sometimes find it hard to: leave the house with three young kids adequately fed, clothed, presentable and with the items we need with us, while also leaving the house behind us in decent shape
The weather: Getting warmer....too bad we discovered today that there is something wrong with our whole heating and cooling system, but this will be addressed ASAP!
Something you have a collection of: some Willow Tree figurines
A smell that cheers you up: pineapple, strawberries or coffee
A smell that can ruin your mood: yucky diaper
How long since you last shaved: this morning
The current state of your hair: shoulder length, nondescript, not loving it, but it'll do
The largest item on your desk/workspace (not computer): Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
Your skill with chopsticks: ummm....none
Which section you head for first in a bookstore: I head for crafts, sewing, bargain books or magazines.
Something you're craving: a trip to British Columbia (to see the friends and family)
Your general thoughts on the presidential race: I wish there was an option I could fully support
How many times have you been hospitalized this year: none
Favorite place to go for a quiet moment: bedroom
You’ve always secretly thought you’d be a good: mom, but now I'm having my doubts
Something that freaks you out: Scary movies...can't watch 'em
Something you’ve eaten too much of lately: Chick-Fil-A
You have never: lived alone
You never want to: have my children go hungry (due to lack of food, not their own pickiness)
If you'd like to join in, you're it! Or if you want to chime in on a few of the questions, fire away in the comments!
Fun Uncle Visit
For our little girl's birthday, her uncle came to visit for a few days. He will soon be landing on the other side of the world to work and live for two years so we were thankful for this time to spend with him before left the continent. We enjoyed a trip to the zoo, some meals out and just hanging out with him.
Do you see the family resemblance?
Do you see the family resemblance?
And She's Four
Our girl is growing up and turned four soon after we returned from South Carolina. We had a party at home the following weekend with friends with a flip flop theme, though we don't go all out with decorating and such. She is a delight to us and we thank God for her life!
So how would we describe this girl?Persistent, Observant, Strong, Persistent, Sweet, Loving, Persistent, Emotional, Caring, Daring, Smart, Persistent, Girly, Beautiful, Generous, Thoughtful, and did I mention Persistent?
We love you, sweet daughter, and are thankful for the girl you are becoming and for the lessons you are teaching your daddy and me. You are a treasure!
We Needed That!
We are approaching one month since my husband and I went away on our trip alone, but I thought I would post a bit about it anyway. Thanks to Nana & Papa for keeping the kids at FarmMed and for the week of very nice lodging in Myrtle Beach! This was our first trip away together (except for one night when Sportster was our only) since we have entered parenthood! It was just the right mix of sightseeing and just relaxing on the beach, at the pool or in our place. We visited two plantations, Fort Sumter, Sunset Beach in North Carolina, The Hammock Shops at Pawleys Island, and the Confederacy museum, Hyman's Seafood and the market in Charleston. And we celebrated my husband's 32nd birthday and were able to put to use his birthday gift, a Canon Rebel XT camera. (Thanks for all the sightseeing recommendations, Erika!)
This was a great week of sleeping in until we weren't tired anymore, having full conversations without interruption, eating out at some establishments that wouldn't be in our normal kid-friendly repertoire, and just enjoying our married life without everyday concerns and distractions. All in all, just a time of refreshment! And we returned renewed for the privilege of parenting and carrying on for what lies ahead for our family.
A few pictures from our time away.
We're hooked! We'd love to visit South Carolina again!
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