Sleep is so important

After having a full-night's rest last night (8 hours, uninterrupted), I have decided something important.

I will not be going to bed late at all this week.

It's necessary for me to have 8 hours of sleep in order to function normally.

I'm making it my personal goal to get my stuff done prior to 10:00pm and get in bed by 10:15pm so I can be asleep no later than 10:45pm.

Here's to a good week due to good sleep! No more of this grogginess.

Season of Thanksgiving

Don't sigh. Don't roll your eyes.

This isn't a post about turkey and cranberry sauce.

It's a post about a season of thanksgiving.

I really have to say that for the better part of a week, I've been thinking often about how much stuff I have to do, all the housework to accomplish, all the grocery shopping to do, bills to pay, staying on track with my goals, keeping up with FlyLady, and everything else from Bible reading to ministry.

This is what I've come up with:

On Tuesday this week, I posted a status on Facebook that said

"I'm thankful today for a busy schedule, a messy kitchen, a to-do list that never ends, my job, my home businesses, and above all else - my husband. I'm thankful for all these things because it means that God has entrusted me with all these responsibilities."

Essentially, I was thinking that for all the grumbling, complaining, and whining that I do, and all the stress that is caused from my negative attitude, I could just obey Philippians 2:14 and deal with it with a smile on my face.

This is going to sound silly, but I've been watching 7th Heaven this week. Especially Season 4, episode 4. One of the main points is that Mary & Lucy want to have a bigger room in the attic, and do a small remodel to include a new bathroom and/ or closet. They suggest the church paying for it, and their mom says, "Have the two of you considered getting by with less, before you get greedy?" Sheepishly, they say no.


What I want to get through here is the point that in our home, we make daily sacrifices to have some small luxuries that some people don't even stop to consider.

For instance, we use coupons, sales and gift cards when we purchase nearly everything. And yet, people will see us in nice clothes, driving nice cars, and make the judgment that we're just spending money left and right. Not true. Additionally, we went through a season of life that God had us on our knees, asking for provision and care when I lost my job last October. What we found was that He wanted me home for some reason. I was able to do SO many things I hadn't been able to for years! (I've worked since I was not even 15 years old). I was able to catch up on rest, have coffee with a friend in the middle of the day, start couponing, teach piano, nanny and even organize the house more! I can't imagine what would have happened if God hadn't brought me home from a job that I really didn't enjoy and was constantly told that I wasn't good at. For the first week, I was hurt and confused and pretty much in a daze. But I got through it. My husband was extremely supportive, and it gave him the nudge to pick up more hours at his job and provide more for our family. We will both tell you that it was a privilege to go through that trial, because our marriage and our lives are so enriched and bettered by it!

Michelle Duggar says something that I love. "Any situation can make you bitter or better." We chose better.

After walking through our first year of marriage in a constant storm, we feel like we're more equipped to handle anything - within months saying goodbye to Robert's grandpa, my getting a new job and leaving where I'd been for 7 years, moving into a new, bigger home, saying goodbye to my best friend's brother, Brandon at 27 years old, my job loss and stresses at church - that was all between March and October of 2010! I tried to seek wise counsel in my friends, but none of them could even relate. Most of them raised their eyebrows, said, "Wow..." really quietly, and just hugged me. Those reactions led me to believe that God has been and continues to be providing a means for us to learn and grow so abundantly!

After all this thinking this week, several times I walked through the house thinking things like, "I'm thankful for a full linen closet, clean linens and an ironing board," or, "I'm thankful for our bed, our blankets and warm home," or even, "I'm so grateful that we have all that we do, because some people have next to nothing!"

I truly am so incredibly grateful for everything we have, everything we've worked for, and how blessed we are. I do not take anything for granted, and have been reminded this week to keep a humble attitude.

I want to encourage all my readers to see a messy kitchen or a pile of clothes to wash, dry and fold and be thankful, not stressed! It's so easy to be carried away in stress! I know, because I was hospitalized at 20 years old with heart problems because of it. That is no exaggeration. I keep the paperwork even still, because it reminds me of how completely stressed, stretched thin and tired I was.

During this upcoming month of November, I'd love to hear from all of you stories of thankfulness and reasons why.

I intend to share mine with you as much as possible. :)

Currently reading, currently cleaning, etc.

So, I'm sure all of you read about or heard about my mistake in the bookstore last week. If not, briefly, here it is:

I accidentally read about 75 pages of a book that I had initially picked up to put on my Christmas list for my family. (Those of you who ARE members of my family, my love of books needs no explaination!) Anyway, about 45 minutes had passed before I realized that I was sitting on the floor, feet propped up, and allowing people to pass over me - all while reading this book.

So, this is the book that caused me to be rude: Mosaic by Amy Grant.

And if I may, it's a FANTASTIC read so far! (Ironically, I haven't found time to keep reading it since that day in the bookstore, as I've been behind in my Bible reading and jurisdictions a few days.)

It really was my fault; it's not fair of me to say that the book - no matter how good of a read it is - caused my actions. I did apologize to the clerk, and she laughed and said, "Well, is it a good book at least?" Thank you, Lord, for giving me good-natured people to understand when I slip up! Also, I was able to get the book for $7.99 (about 45% off), and I also had a 20% off coupon. So it was less than $6 in the end. :)

This next picture is my office. We did a complete overhaul on it during the last couple of weeks. Got rid of clutter, emptied shredding/ burn piles, etc. It's still definitely a project in the works, as my desk is currently covered in coupons (jurisdiction project for this upcoming week is to organize, catalog and distrubute coupons as needed for about 7 papers' worth of what I've got waiting for me. Sigh.)

So anyway, that's what I've been reading and cleaning lately. This week, depending on what FlyLady emails me, I also intend to give the kitchen a good scrub and clean some baseboards (I know, boring!), because I did the mini blinds in all the rooms that have them less than 2 weeks ago. One other project I'd like to tackle is inventory of our pantry - both in the garage and in the house. It's nice to know exactly what is needed on a given shopping trip, especially when you have everything in one nice spreadsheet.

I just sent Robert to the grocery store for some items for Kristin's birthday party tonight. I made sure he had a regular list, a price check list, and all the coupons for each. He is such a good sport! He was the one who volunteered to go to the store, once I'd made mention that things needed to get done at home today, too. As I handed him everything he needed - coupon catalog, coupon sorter, list, pen, etc. - and explained about the rainchecks we  needed to cash in on, items to check on, etc., he just nodded and said, "Okay...okay, I can do that. Yep, I'll check on that. Okay, what about this? Okay."

It's so nice to have a husband that supports my ambitions, my goals for our finances, my OCD and coupon obsessions - and still allows me to mess up (refer to above book story) and gives me such grace!

A Good Decision

*Disclaimer* This is not a shameless plug. It's truly how I feel!

So, awhile back I started teaching piano lessons. Actually, a few years ago now. My first student moved away, but the family decided it would be best for her to keep me as her teacher and do lessons via Skype, and try to visit and get an hour-long lesson in (twice as long as usual) as much as possible. It's been going very, very well - better than my student's mom or myself could have ever anticipated.

Around the same time I started teaching piano lessons, I also started a business from my home. You can check it out here.

Both of these endeavors required me using PayPal to receive payment, and sometimes remit payment (to my vendors for my shop). For the longest time, I had to transfer any payments from my PayPal account to our checking account before we had access to that money. Let me tell you, that was such a strain on us when we only had one steady income! It also took 4-7 business days to get the money.

This is a picture of a tool that I now have that saves us time and headaches regarding payments to me from piano lessons, my home businesses (I also sell on eBay), and is all-around beneficial for us.

In fact, today, I got paid from one of my businesses, and we were able to run to the grocery store, keep a tight reign on the budget, and stock up on some important items at the grocery store!

I encourage any of you who do business from home to sign up for PayPal - it's safe, fast and easy - and apply for a PayPal debit card ASAP!

Courageous

Robert and I don't get to go to the movies often. When we do, we're selective of what we watch, because it's a special thing for us.

Well, we've been saving up movie ticket vouchers and getting 2-for-1 deals on websites and such for the last year or so. We've seen some excellent movies on our vouchers!!

But last Friday we saw one that I would have paid full price to see over and over again.

Courageous.

I first heard about this movie when I was watching an episode of one of my favorite television shows, "19 Kids & Counting," on TLC last season. I saw the Duggars were extras in the movie - how cool! I also noted the actors and that it was written & Directed by Alex Kendrick (who also played a main character in the movie), and that it was a Sherwood Pictures production (of Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, GA.

I knew we were going to see it. Period.

My life was changed because of that movie. Not because I'm not living like I should be, but because God used the people who made that movie to remind me of how precious life is.

The synopsis is simple: 4 men working and living the American Dream, for the most part. There's another main character, a man who is struggling to keep ahead and is fighting for what God is directing him to do. Throughout the entire screenplay, you grow with the cast. You feel for them, your soul weeps for them, and you feel as though you ought to be praying with them.

I have to say, I've never seen a movie quite this amazing on so many levels. From the opening scene to the final scene, it captured my attention and captivated my heart.

There is no shame in the production of this movie at all. It's wholesome, it's clean, it's got a fabulous message - not just for fathers or families, but for people in general - and it presents the Gospel, clearly!

Michael Catt, Jim McBride, and Stephen and Alex Kendrick - thank you for producing a movie I'm proud to see with my husband! We will be pre-ordering this on DVD as soon as possible.

What are you waiting for? GO OUT AND SEE THIS MOVIE!

What I learned about myself today

So let me explain today.

 I went to work this morning, and my first task was to shop for and decorate the office with Halloween/ autumn decor. SCORE! It looks so great. :) And it didn't take that long, either.

I had big plans for fall cleaning: finish the vacuuming (3 bedrooms and hallway), clean bathrooms (not yet, but I will before I go to bed), clean floors besides carpet (not yet, might have to wait until tomorrow), and some dusting. I was able to dust the family room and living room yesterday, as well as our bedroom and all the mini blinds in the house. I also had a couple random little tasks that I was working on.

Well, I was all wrapped up in cleaning and organizing when Robert reminded me that it was almost time to leave for Women's Ministry. I told him, "I don't really think I want to go. We're sewing tonight, and I know that the ladies there know SO much more about it than me. I pretty much do my own thing and wing it. I've got LOTS of wing it. I've got wing it to spare!" To which he replied, "I don't mind if you stay home. But I think you should go. Does it really matter if they know more than you do? You were asked to help with a project."

I thought about it, but I still didn't really want to go. I got really nervous and anxious, mainly because I don't have any formal sewing training or expertise. I know what my family taught me, and what I've learned on my own. I still had about 30 minutes to decide, so it was okay.

At 6:30, I put down what I was working on and went with Robert to the church (I asked him to drive me so I didn't have to haul all my fabric canvas boxes, sewing machine and kit, ironing board and iron, etc. on my own).

I couldn't have been more wrong about tonight.

There weren't more than ten of us there (kind of sad, but also easy on my nerves), and there were only 3 sewing machines there. Mine was one of them. I started out by getting all set up (after I briefly excused myself to update the church's Information Board), and then was asked for help. ME! I was asked to help someone with their machine!

I fixed it with ease, and showed the person to whom it belonged how to avoid the problem in the future.

The rest of the evening went pretty much like that. I helped people, I got to share in fellowship, and we got stuff done.

I'm so glad my husband and some other people encouraged me to go tonight. :) I learned that, just as the older women can encourage the younger women, sometimes the younger women can help the older women, too. And that it's never too late to say, "yes," as long as your heart and mind are open to all that entails.

What I'm doing....

Today is just crazy.

I went to work this morning, came home at 12:15, and immediately grabbed a quick bite to eat and started the bread order I have to fill today.

I also fluffed the load of laundry in the dryer, and picked up a little bit.

Now, I'm waiting for the next signal on the bread maker to take out the paddle, going to fold a load of laundry, and vacuum.

Here's to a super busy afternoon.

Best Deal Ever

I have no idea how this happened....

But I got these tights:

For $0.03...

God must have known I needed a pick-me-up today :)

October Goals

Here's the update on September goals: 


3 Skype coffee dates w/ Tiff - fail. Not even one. :( Our schedules are really difficult to coordinate now that she's so far away. 
Accountability buddies starting up again w/ Tiff - Haven't gotten there - yet. But October is fresh, and I think we'll try it this month. 
Read book of Proverbs every day, tie in Psalms to finish both in a month - Fail. Trying it again with an accountability buddy who is a good friend, and a spiritual mother whom I look to for guidance, help, etc. 
Get Bible Quizzing materials started - not yet. Fail. Going to get this started immediately this month. 
Bed made daily; regardless of what time - Hardly. We were gone way too much. 
Sell more on eBay than 3 items - Nope. Organize garage w/ Robert - Nope. 
Start working on Christmas gifts - Yep! :) All of my gifts will be homemade this year, and I'm looking forward to it. 
Stronger commitment to Women's Ministry - Yes! This is going very well for me. So glad we have the program now. 
Less time on computer in living room; more in office - Yes! Made possible by the new Desktop computer. :) Pick out new desktop, shop w/ dad, PURCHASE - YES! As mentioned above. :) HUGE accomplishment. It was really difficult, but I finally picked one out that I think will last several years. 


That being said, I see a lot of red in my goals. Part of it was a lack of commitment, and part of it was the start up of the fall and other commitments on our plates. I don't see it as failure; I see it as a starting point.


My goals for October have stemmed from September's shortcomings: 


Make itemized listing of pantry contents. This includes both refrigerators, the freezer, etc. 
Get garage organized, move items in the house that need to be moved in.
Keep up with the kiddos in Trek & Journey material.
Have first 7 Bible Quizzing lessons ready by Oct. 22nd. 
Keep up with Ladies' Bible Study and HOV Bible Study.
No eating out unless it's a special occasion (this is going to be a goal from now until the end of the year).
Get 2 new items per week in the shop. 
Make bed daily. 
Keep up in Proverbs & Pslams reading with my friend.
Keep the house picked up (no hot spots, etc.)
3 home-cooked meals per week (the other days can be left-overs, hodge-podge, etc.)
Learn canning, food preservation and stuff
Keep building pantry for the winter


Here's to another fresh start and I hope that you all will join me in setting some goals and getting things done!