Top 10 in 2010

My top 10 Blessings this year....(in no particular order)

1. Kaleb's excellent heart report
2. Isaac learning to read
3. New ministries (Mom Life leader, Couples Small Group, & Worship Arts Leadership Team) - it's been a ride!
4. Jeff and I graduated from our 2 year Discipleship class that focused on the life and ministry of Jesus.
5. Family Vacation in Gatlinburg, TN
6. Celebrated my mom being 10 years cancer free!
7. Strengthening current friendships & New friendships
8. Began worship leadership training and grew in ways I never dreamed - still growing in this area for 2011
9. Feel like I'm finding my passions and where I want to put forth my time and effort on all levels of my life in 2011
10. Great, memorable dates with Jeff - looking forward to many more in 2011

2010 Review of the Books I Read

I love to read and this post is a follow up to the post I wrote back in January http://leslieamorris.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html on my list of books to read for 2010. I only got through about 1/3 of them on my list but it was great to have a list to refer to when I was ready to choose another book. Some books were added. I thought it would be fun to review them since I always love book suggestions and always read the reviews on Amazon before purchasing a book.

Leslie's Favorites & Suggestions for your own personal library:
She's Gonna Blow!: Real Help for Moms Dealing with Anger by Julie Ann Barnhill - very real, uncut emotions that we moms can face at times. Loved her honesty and perspective.
Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs by Emerson Eggerichs - Changed my perspective on marriage.
Becoming a Chief Home Officer by Allie Pleiter - Loved this book!
Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider - didn't really learn anything new because I read lots of organizing books; however, great simple reference to have on hand.
More Hours in My Day: Proven Ways to Organize Your Home, Your Family, and Yourself by Emilie Barnes and Sheri Torelli - still working my way through this book. I've been using it to do small projects around my house. Love it!

Good Reads but probably would be better off getting from the library or borrowing from a friend and then deciding if you want to put in your own personal library:

The Most Important Place on Earth: What a Christian Home Looks Like and How to Build One by Robert Wolgemuth - definitely some good truth but wasn't my personal style of book to glean practical tips from
Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst - I enjoyed this book and took some tips from it but probably won't use it for a reference. I would definitely suggest it to a friend or let her borrow my copy.
A Woman's Secret To A Balanced Life: Finding God's Refreshing Priorities for You by Lysa Terkeurst & Sharon Jaynes - Again, like the above book by Lysa...same type of book. Not as many practical tips as I anticipated.
The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play by Neil A. Fiore - this book is ok. It has some great tips but also some strange meditating things in it that I'm not so sure I agree with. I've not read cover to cover but glanced and read through a few chapters. I will keep it in my library and might go back and read more in depth later.

Books I was disappointed in...

Captivating, Unveling the Mysteries of A Woman's Soul by John Eldredge, Stasi Eldredge - definitely disappointed in this book. I had really high expectations and was let down. I couldn't get through the book. Disagreed with some ideas in the book so found it hard to continue reading.

Books I've purchased and still waiting to get through....
Boy-Sterous Living: Celebrating Your Loud and Roudy Life with Sons by Jean Blackner
That's My Son: How Moms Can Influence Boys to Become Men of Character by Rick Johnson
Raising A Modern-Day Knight: A Father's Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood by Robert Lewis
Treasuring God in Our Traditions by John & Noel Piper
Sacred Sex: A Spiritual Celebration of Oneness in Marriage by Tim Alan Gardner & Scott M Stanley
Pray Big by Will Davis Jr.

30 Years Ago

Thirty years ago today the Lord blessed me with life.

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:13-14

And blessed it has been.

It's hard to believe I've been living for 3 decades now. As I reflect on each decade there are unique and marking moments that I want to share.

1980-1990:
*My parents' firstborn child- I know the joy of a firstborn and I can only imagine my parents felt the very same. They may have been a bit surprised to see a daughter show up since my heartbeat reflected a boy's and the nurse told my mom she thought I was a boy. :) What a blessing for me to enter into a loving and Christ centered family.
*3 years later my brother joined the family and we were a family of 4.
*My childhood was a lot of fun. Some of my fondest memories are playing with the neighbor kids at my Grandma's house each summer, swimming at my Aunt's pool, going to the zoo, and just being a kid.
*Accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior

1991-2000:
* Dream of mine came true when I performed 3 years in show choir.
* Graduated high school
* Made some of my very best friends that are still in my life 15-20 years later!
*Met my husband
*Began to feel the pain of life and rely on faith when Mom was diagnosed with cancer.
*Began college
*Experienced a growth in the Lord as I headed out on my own
* Chose to be baptized to proclaim my faith in Jesus

2001-2010: The BEST decade so far!

*Graduated college
*Married an incredible man
*Welcomed both sons into our life (Isaac - 6 years old, Kaleb - 4 years old)
*Made the best decisions of my life....said YES to Jeff and quit my full time job to stay home with my precious little ones.
*Faith was tested and refined with our son's health
* Began to lead worship at Life Community which opened up more doors than I can even describe in my spiritual growth, relationships and leadership opportunities.
*Met more incredible new friends that I know will be part of the rest of my life

I've heard that the next decade is better yet! I don't think it will be what happens in my life the next 10 years but the changes that keep happening inside of me. I don't want to be the same woman I was in my 20s but instead filled with more wisdom and love for the Lord. I'm so thankful he loved me enough to create me and die for me and yet supply all the wonderful blessings in between. I'm also thankful for those who prayed for me. Those who prayed that I would accept Jesus as my savior, be involved in Godly relationships in school, that I would marry a man who loved the Lord and that I would be blessed with a family of my own. I hope that those same people continue to pray for my journey as a servant of the Lord, wife and mother this next decade.

Thank you Lord for life, for I am nothing without you!

Christmas at the Morris House

I love the simplicity of our Christmas. I love that I rarely ever get stressed about it, it doesn't break our bank account and we get to spend some quality time with others. Here's a picture of our Christmas this year....

Every Christmas Eve our church does an incredible service. Most of the time I am involved. Last year I took a break and missed it incredibly! There are just some gifts, talents and passions that are hard to take a break from. So this year I was involved with the choir. It was a crazy week with practices but during these practices I made new friendships and reconnected with old friends. I loved that part just as much as I loved being part of the service. I love sharing life with my dear friends who love the Lord and serve Him. The work put in to this service requires so many hours for so many involved and it was very well done. I'm thankful to work with men and women who use their time and talents for the Lord. From the beautiful violin music in the foyer to the candle lights, and winter themed stage with a huge waterfall, to worship, to teaching, to a great meal...it was a beautiful night.

Then this morning the boys woke up a little before 7am. Typically Jeff and I don't exchange gifts but we do purchase gifts for those we love. The boys have been anticipating this morning but we try to keep it very low key. I hate to see greed at Christmas (I'm guilty of it too), especially in my children. They each got some fun useful things but they did get one big gift each (a wii game). They loved the simplicity of it and truly enjoyed it because they weren't overwhelmed by so many things. Then we had a big breakfast together but the boys didn't care to eat much because they wanted to get to their games. In addition, we plan to do a few more fun things as a family before Christmas break is over.

This afternoon we will head to my parents house (which is around the corner about 2 miles away) to enjoy an evening together with my small family. In the meantime we'll take a nap, finish up food prep for tonight and watch a movie. In between all of that the boys will be playing the wii with Dad. A favorite for them all! Most of all we love the family time since we don't get many days in a year to just be at home together all day.

I am thankful to the Lord for coming as our savior to save us. It's not about this day we mark on the calendar to celebrate his birth. It's about eternal life with Him and living daily for Him.

Weight of Parenting

Does any other moms out there with boys ever feel the weight and pressure of raising a boy? While raising daughters has no less importance, God calls the man to be the leader of a family. I know the Lord wouldn't have given me boys to raise if He didn't feel I could do it. When I truly think about this, I'm honored that the Lord has chosen me and Jeff to raise to 2 boys for His kingdom. However, I feel like it's a huge responsibility!

Before we had our children I never prayed for gender. I truly wanted the Lord to design our family. I wanted Him to choose the dynamics of our family. I'd be lying if I didn't somewhat wish we had a daughter in the mix of our family. However, we felt that for the time being our family would only be a family of 4 and there's no way I'd trade either one of my sons for a daughter! :)

I do not want to let the Lord down in this incredible opportunity! My prayer is that the Lord will provide Jeff and me with wisdom and opportunities to train our sons to one day be a servant who loves the Lord with all his heart, to be a loving husband who cares for and provides for his family in a way that honors the Lord, and to raise his children to love and honor the Lord.

While I will pray my boys through the tough times, the cultural addictions & practices, teaching them to respect and honor your daughters through purity; my prayer is that you will join me in praying for your daughters to understand a man's downfall and protect them through choices in dress and modesty as a young woman.

While I pray for my sons' future, I will also pray for your daughters as someday she may be my son's wife and the mother to my grandchildren.

Being Me

Do you ever make a decision only to doubt it over and over again? That's me! I'm a perfectionist = "A propensity for being displeased with anything that is not perfect or does not meet extremely high standards." It's hard living my life with these standards.

While I love that the Lord gives us free will, most of the time I just want Him to tell me what to do. I want to follow His way that I get tripped up in the details of it. Should I homeschool my kids? Did I make the wrong choice by sending them to public school? Should I be involved in ministry while my kids are young? Should I shoot for that dream I've had for a few years?

Today I'm having one of those "questioning" days. Am I on the right path? Am I focused on what I should be? Then I ran across this blog... http://lysaterkeurst.com/2009/09/becoming-me/ and I'm reminded that being the woman God has called me to be is part of His plan. I don't have to lose myself and deny myself in motherhood when I've been gifted in other areas.

Anyone else ever struggle with this?

A memorable Christmas

Today I experienced something I've never done before. I delivered Christmas gifts to a single mom with three kids. It's our family's tradition to sponsor a family each Christmas through Love Inc in Huntington but this was the first year I personally delivered the gifts. I knew the Lord wanted me to personally connect with the family this year and I was looking forward to it. My first interaction was a phone call to let the mom know her family had been chosen and they would be receiving gifts this Christmas. I remember hearing silence on the other end and then a heartfelt "Merry Christmas to you!" She sounded young and very sweet.

Today I met her in person. To see the expression on her face when I told her that I found the one thing she's been looking for was priceless. Before I left she shared that she has no family who lives near and being sponsored for Christmas will now allow her to pay to have her van fixed. I take for granted that my family lives near by, that I can feed, clothe and buy wants for my children as well as take care of unexpected expenses. It was hard to hold back tears as she hugged me and sincerely thanked me.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 - Sowing Generously....a scripture passage that inspires our family to continue to give out of our love for the Lord and the richness He has blessed us with.

Fat Files

I love to read! I feel more empowered and more educated when I take the time to read. Wisdom is something that I never can have too much of and I'm always wanting more! I love getting wisdom through others who have learned the hard way. Saves me a lot of heartache at times. :) While I was preparing to be at home full time the Lord put this wonderful book in my hands. It had so much wisdom in it that I couldn't put it down. Things I never would have considered to be important. Prior to being a wife all my free time was spent studying for my degree and whatever classes that entailed. During that first year of being at home I believe the Lord transformed me in ways I couldn't even imagine. My whole world had drastically changed and it was time to start a new focus.

The book was called A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George. The most life changing book I've ever read. I don't think it was because it is the best book out there but it was the book I needed to read at that time in my life so it became a life changing book for me. One of the things she talks about that I want to share in this post is called Fat Files. Fat Files are those topics that you want to spend time learning more. She suggests that we choose 5 things and stick to learning more and more about those 5 things throughout your life. At that time it was really hard for me to choose 5 things but over the years I've realized that I tend to pick up books that relate to the same topics. Here are my top 5:

*Spiritual growth
*Marriage
*Parenting
*Homemaking/organizing
*Business related materials specific to my business or business in general

I think all the books in my personal library fall under one of these categories.

I'd love to hear what you love to read up on and if you have any favorites that fall under any of my categories that you'd like to suggest to me.

My Favorite Things

I love the simplicity of my life. I love that each day has a gift when I take the time to enjoy it. I've even felt that I need to simplify more. As the new year approaches I'm examining what works and what needs to change. So, I thought I'd share!

My favorite things that I will continue into 2011....

*Date Night every Friday - After an incredibly busy week I had the gift of being at home all day yesterday. Jeff got home around 1pm and we spent the afternoon and evening together just being home. It was wonderful! Quality time with Jeff is a true treasure and I intend to spend many more days like this with him.

*Family meals - I've been challenged by some ladies to make meal time count with devotions and prayer time as a family. I'm looking forward to adding this to our 2011 family traditions.

*Time with my boys - I've recently learned an interesting fact about boys/men and how they feel loved. Quality time is not about a good conversation with mom but about sitting alongside of them to play a game and just be with them.

*Girlfriend time - with all the craziness of life, I tend to put this on the back burner but after an evening away I came home with new ideas and a new passion for change. Girlfriends who love the Lord challenge me to make positive changes in my life. I definitely want more time with them!

*Me time - Sometimes I feel guilty for me time but recently I have realized it is an absolute must for me. Some of my favorites include shopping alone, getting up early on a Saturday to watch a chick flick only I would like, reading my favorite blogs, books and magazines, and sneaking a nap in when I can.

*Sabbath day - Sunday is our sabbath and I look forward to our agenda of nothing after coming home from church. We sleep, play, watch football or movies, and eat junk food. Our time together as a family is so refreshing and prepares us for the week ahead.

While I will continue to serve the Lord, study His word, and walk through the doors He opens, I will still take time in 2011 to make my husband, children and relationships priority.

I'm passionate about handling $$ God's way. The best way that has worked for us is a budget. As we head into the new year I encourage you to consider a budget if you've never done it. There is so much freedom in it! I've heard many people tell me that budgets give them anxiety or feel too restricted.

I was thinking about why a budget is so important and here's what we have found...

*Tells us how much $$ we really have to spend; therefore when we over-spend in one area, we can under-spend in another area.
*Gives us freedom to spend - YES, you read that correctly.
*Helps us to give and save.
*Currently know our financial situation at all times - I never have to wonder how much $$ we have. I'm never surprised by a credit card bill b/c I've tracked it and I can pay it off in full each month. (I do not suggest credit cards if you have debt on them)

Here is a wonderful link to help you get started. It's the exact way we have budgeted for the last 6 years and works perfectly! http://www.daveramsey.com/tools/budget-forms/

Helpful Time Managment Tip

I've been disappointed lately that I haven't been able to keep up on my house. Part of that is because I'm not home. My schedule is so full that when I am home, I don't even know where to begin. I'm too tired to make my to do list the night before and then exhausted when I do get home. I relate to this saying, "A confused mind does nothing." That's exactly what happens to me. I shut down. Finally after being gone every day this past week, I was getting frustrated. Frustrated with myself for letting my schedule control me but also that I just couldn't get it together this week! Thank goodness a book I ordered arrived in the mail yesterday and I took time to lay on the couch and skim through it. It's called Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider. I've read many organizational books and this one is great if you just want to keep it simple! It's great for beginners! So, here's the tip that has already made my Saturday a successful one (and its not even 8am!).

Have a "Most Important Things" list and only include 3 things on it. Choose the top 3 things you MUST accomplish that day and when you complete them, count it as a successful day. Don't include more than 10 things on your total to do list for the day. I don't know about you, but I think I can handle 3 things in a day! If I can have a focus for 3 things, I'm sure I'll keep going and get more done. She also suggests that you try to work on things so that your list is done by the weekend and not try to have a specific list for each day of the week. Since each day brings many different distractions, I like her simplistic approach. I suggest you add it to your 2011 read list if you are looking for ways to simplify.

The Lord's Provision Financially - final part

There are two marking moments in our lives that completely changed the direction we were headed financially. The first came in 2005 when we first heard of Dave Ramsey and the second came in 2008 when we visited Gateway Church in Texas.

When we first heard of Dave’s teachings, we knew it was just what we needed living on such a limited income. We began to implement his budget and baby steps. Very soon we were headed in a very positive direction financially. Three years later we were encouraged to get crazy about getting out of debt. Before we wanted to be out of debt but it wasn’t a priority. As our income increased, so did some of our living expenses by choice. It felt good not to feel so tight and have a little extra to go on a date or get away for a weekend.

The summer of 2008 we were in TX for business and got to spend time with Jeff’s aunt and uncle which meant going to church with them. I know it was divine that we were there that particular morning. The pastor was teaching from his book The Blessed Life. We were so intruiged that I bought the book upon returning home and couldn’t put it down! The best read of my life!

In a nutshell it encouraged us to:

*Give more

*Get out of debt immediately!

We decided to do it. We were going to get crazy about debt and start living very frugally again. We had a 2 year plan to pay our college loans off (our only debt besides our mortgage). After we made that decision something happened. Jeff lost his wedding band in his parents’ pond. I was devastated but we had just made this plan and we were going to stick to it. He was without a band for several weeks until his birthday and then he used gift money to purchase a new one. Then the Lord put it on our hearts to increase our giving. “WHAT, Lord?!? Are you serious?” It was undeniably from the Lord so we listened. There went the 2 year plan! Every extra we had found in our budget would now be going back to the Lord in what we call a “giving fund” that is completely separate from our 10% tithe. This giving fund had been on my heart for months and now the Lord was showing us how to have it. We didn’t more money, we simply needed to weed out some unnecessary spending to create it. We paid nothing extra on our loans for a solid 3 months. I was really feeling defeated and kept asking the Lord if we truly heard him. I am not kidding when he would answer, “YES.” It might be through something on the radio, a reading or someone speaking that would confirm we were in His plan.

Then the unexpected happened. Only God can do this! Jeff received a bonus from work that nearly paid the college loans off in full! We were expecting a certain amount for Jeff’s bonus from what he received the year prior. It was doubled this particular year! I’m not joking! Sounds too good to be true…only God can do this! Then our tax return finished the remaining balance and we took a trip to Disney World to celebrate.

We’ve not seen this kind of money since.

Our story is unique and part of our personal journey. However, I know that the Lord is doing this in other people’s lives. I encourage you to seek Him and His kingdom and allow His ways to be your ways. We still mess up and spend money as we shouldn’t. We will always be a work in progress like every other area of our lives. However, the Lord has proven faithful time and time again. We’ve come a long way the last 7 years and I am so thankful I listened to that call on my heart that was so undeniable. I would have missed out on so many blessings!

The Lord's Provision Financially - part 3

The moment we brought our son home, I would begin to see the hand of the Lord in ways I never had before. I honestly don't know if I'm recounting all the times the Lord showed up; however, I can recount many and I'll share snippets in bullet points below...

*Several months after Isaac was born the doctor who delivered him was audited and it was found that we had overpaid $900. I do not know how this happened because I am very detailed and should have caught that! Nonetheless, $900 was HUGE! There were many other times (too many to count) that we would receive checks in the mail that were unexpected ranging from $200-$500.

*We ALWAYS paid bills on time...ALWAYS had food to eat. Never once did we have to worry about not enough money to live on. I was working my business very part time and I would gain the income I needed when we needed it. (Side note: I started my own Mary Kay business as something fun to do before I accepted my teaching position. When I chose to stay at home I knew this could be a back up plan in a pinch).

*One particular MK show I did gave me enough profit to pay a repair bill we had unexpectedly.

*Since I didn't have many hand me down clothes for Isaac, my mom would always purchase outfits when we needed them (I never asked her or told her we needed clothes). I always had clothes for him but never bought anything.

*One particular time I needed to purchase a winter coat/pants for him. I found the exact amount in spare change we had been accummulating.

*I would always treat myself to new clothes through birthday and Christmas gift money. I was so thankful for that to get what I truly needed.

All of these random things would come at just the right time. They may seem small and insignificant but they were huge for us at the time. Each year Jeff's income would rise so each year we had a little extra that we didn't have the year before. We did give up many things during this time. Those include....going out on dates, purchasing new clothes for ourselves, saying no to invites that would cost us money (family vacations, shopping outings, etc), no extra TV costs, extra internet costs(we had the slowest dial up ever!) or cell phone costs. It was frustrating at times because we felt like everyone else was living much more comfortable than us. However, the Lord always came through on our needs.

We learned so many things during this time. We learned...

*How to budget and stick to it
*How to remain faithful in our giving back to the Lord even when it felt like the money could be better used for our living expenses
*Living simply is truly less stressful
*Things aren't important

Ok, so I need to close this for now and will really finish up to the present in my next blog.

The Lord's Provision Financially - part 2

Shortly after our one year anniversary we found out that our family would expand by one! I was extremely excited while hubby was nervous. He was still a full time student and I didn't have a job! I had just graduated with my degree in education and was pursuing my teaching career. He had every reason to be nervous about fatherhood with our situation. I don't remember ever fully worrying about this which is strange since I worry about many things. I was in the throes of morning sickness when the morning of my first interview. I can remember prying myself off the couch to be presentable and make sure I wasn't giving away the detail that life was growing inside of me. Interview went extremely well (I didn't get sick!). Now I just had to wait. I didn't have any other leads for a job so I waited and waited. I remember very vividly the call I received for the job offer! I later found out that I was in very close running with a more experienced woman. I can only explain the Lord's provision in getting this job.

Since we knew that our little one would be arriving in the spring we began to save nearly my entire paycheck, only keeping out a small percentage for living expenses. We had many things to purchase and needed to make sure we could pay our medical expenses in cash. During that time my mom purchased some maternity clothes for me (I had no hand me downs since I was the first of my friends and family to start a family). It was the little things such as these that made a huge difference so we could financially prepare for our expanding family.

When I accepted this teaching position knowing I was pregnant, I had every intention of being a working mom. In fact I told Jeff from the beginning that I would NEVER be a stay at home mom! I could NEVER do that! I began looking into day cares and even had money pulled out of my paycheck to save for childcare expenses. I believe it was right before Christmas break or so that I heard something so dramatic from the Lord that it completely changed the course of my life. Jeff and I were not considering me to be at home because it was not possible and quite frankly, I didn't have the desire to do it.

One morning in my quiet time with the Lord I heard him speak so clearly to me that I ran out to the kitchen to tell Jeff that God was calling me to be at home. His response..."I'd like that to but I don't see how its a possibility right now." I suggested we pray about it and see if we can't just make a plan that would allow me to quit my full time teaching position. I don't remember much else from there except it was so strong on my heart that I couldn't deny it even when others discouraged us. We created a very tight budget that we believed we could live on and the decision was made....I would be at home full time. We would be losing exactly half of our income for me to stay at home. I believe in January I announced it and did all the paperwork, etc necessary to let the corporation know that when my baby was born in March, I would not be returning.

This was a huge step of faith! We lived on less than the average household income and because the Lord was part of it, He made sure everything was taken care of.

The final part of my story will resume later....

The Lord's Provision Financially

A follow-up to my previous $$ blog....

I was thinking that it would be encouraging for me to share our financial journey in hopes that many of you can relate and find hope in your own circumstances. It began back in 2002....

It was the week or two before our wedding and the house that would be our first home was struck with lightening. It hit our well pump = digging an entire new well. The price was not pretty! Thankfully we had borrowed more college loan money than we needed so we had some cash saved for a rainy day. The loan money was running interest free at that time because we both were college students. I think the total was like $3000! Great way to start our married life. :) We thanked the Lord for the money we had and paid it.

Fast forward a few months and several other mishaps financially and Jeff and I were searching for some answers. We were asking the Lord what was going on. Was He teaching us something? We quickly found out YES, He was! He revealed to us that our tithe was not what He wanted. We heard Him and changed it. (SIDE NOTE: Jeff and I believe that 10% is the Lord's money...period...there's no negotiation that changes that no matter how bad our financial situation gets). We began tithing as the Lord wished us to even though it technically looked like we could not afford to do it. We trusted the Lord and leaned on His provision that 90% of our income would provide, which wasn't much at that time. Jeff was working as a sales clerk at Builders Mart and I had a very part time job making $6 an hour at the college. Our income together was not much.

So after we had all these expenses arise we turned to the Lord, heard Him and started making changes immediately. Just days later we received a check in the mail for over $1200! I can't make this stuff up if I wanted to! Long story short we received a refund on our honeymoon because I had written them a letter of complaints. I never called, simply wrote a letter and this check showed up in the mail days after we committed our money back to the Lord for His glory. I don't believe it to be a coincidence but a confirmation from the Lord that He was pleased.

I could go into a sermon on tithing and why believers need to do it and how you can never out give God because He will always provide, but I think you'll tune me out. I think you'll want to hear my personal story more than my convictions.

This was our very first provision from the Lord and certainly not our last! My story will continue later....

$$$

Money....thinking about it this morning as I prepare for Jeff and I to review our finances for the upcoming 2011 year. Over the last few months we've been talking about all the things we really should replace and we laugh and say "add it to the list..." I wonder if that list will ever just disappear. Probably not. I think we'll always want more than we have. I fight this temptation daily.

I want...a bigger home, a basement to send the kids to play, a hot tub, a new bed, new dining room table, fireplace......these are all very nice things and maybe someday the Lord will bless me with them. However, I begin to get a little upset that I can't have them now. I believe it goes back to this unrealistic expectation. The expectation that by 30 you will be where you want to be. We'll have the income to purchase the home of our dreams, drive nice cars and have all the luxuries we could ever want (in a middle class sort of way). I'm not sure where that expectation comes from but it leaves me feeling empty and frustrated. When I have so much to be thankful for! So many blessings the Lord has provided over the last 8 years of being out on our own.

As we plan for 2011 my desire is that the Lord will change my heart to be thankful for what He chooses to give us and that we will be the best stewards of all He has planned whether its saving, giving away, or simply adding a few things from our list.

My favorite financial resources:
www.daveramsey.com
Financial Peace University Series by Dave Ramsey (any of his books too)
The Blessed Life by Robert Morris

Lesson on Love from my child

My boys are different....

One is shy; the other will say just about anything.
One loves routine and structure and the other is carefree.
One has bright blue eyes and the other has dark brown eyes.
One is tall for his age and the other is short for his age.
One likes to please and the other likes to test boundaries.

My boys are so different yet I love them both so much! My oldest son is so much like me its scary while my youngest son has more characteristics of my husband. So different, yet so loved.

Last night just out of nowhere my oldest said, "Mom, Kaleb is cuter than me. Mom, do you think Kaleb is cuter than me? Tell me the truth!" I sat down, looked him in the eyes and told him that he is precious to me as well as Kaleb is precious to me and I do not love one more than the other. It pained me to hear him ask me with a look of sadness on his face.

The Lord spoke to me saying, "Leslie, how many times do you compare yourself to others and not feel like you measure up? You are frustrated with your weakness and compare them to others' strengths. I created you just as I wanted and I love you just the same."

I'm thankful for reminders of God's love for me as His precious child.

Joy In My Day

Wearing many hats in my everyday life can get overwhelming to where I feel like my life is attached to a to do list! I feel guilt if I do anything that is not on my list yet I also feel guilt if I only focus on my list. It's a lose/lose situation. Can anyone else relate?

The other morning I prayed the Lord would give me joy for my day. My next few weeks are just insanely crazy (at least in my world) and I have been carrying this HUGE burden. It's a burden of fear of the future, fear that I'm not living up to the standards (not sure whose standards...my own? my husband's? my kids'? my friends? my family?) and fear of rejection. I can even become consumed by trying to live up to the Lord's standards. Am I truly living by the Word? Is the Lord pleased with me? So much that it becomes a heavy burden. I can become consumed by the "what not to do as a follower of Jesus" that I don't focus on what the Lord does want me to do. I realized this mindset has been going on for way too long. It's time I make a change.

The Lord helped me to make a list of what I could be joyful about in my day, even if it's a bit crazy and full of my things to do. Things like this....snuggling with my healthy children, having health myself to do many things, slipping into a warm bed each and every night with the love of my life right beside me, family that is near and in good health, and the list goes on and on.....

He also helped me set some new priorities in my day....it looks like this:
Lord - love Him with everything in me all day long through all situations and circumstances
Me - this may sound selfish but I need to take care of me before I can take care of the most important people in my life. So this means I need to eat healthy and exercise as well as spend that most precious time with the Lord to give me the strength, wisdom and energy I need for my day.
My husband - serve and respect him as the most important person in my life
My children - love, discipline and teach them about the Lord all day long

Then the "to do" list can happen once these other priorities are in the forefront of my mind. It works this way. Joy is in my heart when I focus on what is most important in the Lord's eyes and let everything else fall into place.

What can you be joyful about today?

No Debt or Budget Adjustments this Christmas

Even though we've never gone in debt for Christmas, we have found Oct-Dec budgets to be tight to fit it all in. Then we still feel like we are spending more than we want so last year we decided what would be a good cushiony (is that even a word?!?) amount to have at Christmas time and divided it by 52 weeks and in January began a Christmas fund. You have to be disciplined not to ever dip into it but it sure makes for Christmas shopping fun when you have the cash in hand and the fall budget doesn't even feel it!

My top 10 Priorities

I read a post from another blogger I follow about priorities. I learned some insight reading hers so thought I'd share mine. Everyone has different priorities with our God given talents. Here's what my life looks like with 2 kids ages 6 and 4...

My current priorities:

1. Having a growing relationship with the Lord - this means the alarm goes off at 4:45am! Yes, that early! By 5am I am turning the light on and trying to get my eyes to adjust to the reading material in front of me. I am finishing up a 2 year course of the life of Jesus so some mornings it includes homework and studying scripture in a class like format. The other days I read the Word and possibly a devotional. I am currently asking the Lord to give me a spirit of prayer because I struggle with having a vibrant prayer life. I want to LOVE to pray, but I feel like its more of a duty and something I need to do. I'm sure I'll post later about how the Lord has changed my heart towards this.

2. Jeff - Even though Jeff is a priority, there are times it doesn't feel like it to him. This list is a work in progress in implementing but what is at the heart of who I want to be. We are making date night a priority but still not doing well on the weeks we don't actually go out. We are usually tired and in bed by 9pm with no energy to have a date at home. I also just read from a wife who tries to set aside an hour each evening to spend alone with her husband. Yes, she is a mom too! What a great goal! I think even if we would shoot for 20-30 min, we'd see a significant difference in our marriage. So, my goal is to make that a priority before we fall asleep each night after the boys are in bed. I also NEVER schedule anything on Friday that interferes with my time with Jeff. He normally gets off work by noon so I hardly ever schedule anything during that time. I save that day for him, even if we are just lounging around at home.

3. The boys - it is my desire to be the one that drives Isaac to school and picks him up each day. I like for us to eat breakfast together, read a Bible lesson and pray together each morning. We are still growing in this area too. Some mornings are just hectic! I'm also working on being more consistent with my training and discipline. I also set aside the hour after school to do homework and read to them. This is still a struggle because it feels crazy but as we get in the habit of doing it, I'm sure it will begin unfold as I anticipate.

4. Family time - I am gone 2-3 evenings a week, depending on the week (doesn't happen every week) so our family time has to be protected. I make sure that 1-2 evening during the week are open as well as Saturday night and all day Sunday. We never split up as a family from Saturday-Sunday. If there is an activity we try to do it all together. Sometimes we switch out Friday and Saturday for date night/family night. I do like to keep it flexible.

5. Staying healthy and feeding my mind - I try to exercise 3-4 times a week, drink juices that give me energy as well as cut down on sweets. I also keep up on regular chiropractor adjustments and massage therapy appointments to keep headaches and stress effects on my body at bay. I also love to read so I try to get some down time in to read as much as I can. I love to spend about 30 min each day on the couch with a magazine or book that helps me grow as a homemaker, wife, mom and woman following the Lord. I have found this to be crucial.
As moms we cannot forget about ourselves! This priority gives me the energy to do the rest!

6. Keeping up with my home & feeding my family home made meals - I love a an organized home and home made meals. I try to keep our mainstream spots organized, picked-up and clean. We hardly ever purchase take-out or go through the drive through. I plan our meals and do some prep ahead of time to make sure that I feed my family each night with meals that I prepare even if I have to run out before dinner.

Everything from here out is not in any particular order as they all mean the same to me!

7. Sticking to a budget - this means I do coupon a lot. I don't spend a lot of time researching but when I do have time I try to save on the products that I purchase the most. It is quite fun finding some great deals!

8. Running a business from home - love the flexibility and the chance to consult women! Each season looks different but I determine what will work for our family and work around them.

9. Ministries I love - I only participate in things I'm passionate about. My passion is music ministry so I serve here as the Lord opens doors.

10. Extended Family & Friendships - We make our close family gatherings a priority. We also have some very close friends who we get together with monthly and I also have some girlfriends who I will occasionally grab coffee with or chat on the phone with (for those that don't live nearby). I also keep in touch via FB and email. These relationships are very important. We also want to start opening up our home once a month to spend more time with people we love!

Things that are not a priority -

* Any extra activities (church included) that are through the week or don't allow us to put the kids to bed on time, which is 8pm.

*Watching TV - hardly comes on

*Ironing - I NEVER do it! Yes, you will see me with wrinkled clothes on. :)

* Deep cleaning - you will find dust and cobwebs occasionally! Ok, maybe you'll spot one once a day! Actually I have hired someone to help me out with this once a week. It takes a huge load off!

*Occasional help in my office - I can't run a business from start to finish without help!

*Lots of homemade baking - I wish I had time for more but I'm rarely home so it becomes a family activity if it happens.

*Messy spots in my home - like my office closet, my linen closet, etc. One day I will get to them!

*Messy car - my husband can't stand it but I spend so much time in it that I'm ready to get out when I get home and then forget to bring all my junk in!

*Say NO quite a bit - when all the above is in my schedule, there just isn't much room for anything else. If I have some extra time I might throw in something extra but right now, I say NO a lot. It is quite freeing to say NO and only commit to the things that I passionate about and are important to me.

This is me and my life right now!

Christmas Project

Every year I want to make Christmas memorable and every year I fall short of my expectations. Jeff and I grew up with very different backgrounds so its always been a struggle to find common ground. Not just common ground as a couple, but common ground where we feel we are still honoring the Lord. There are so many ways we can take our eyes off the Lord during this time and we want to encourage healthy habits and a tradition that honors the Lord.

As we continue in this journey I am taking a step of faith to commit to a December long journey to study the life of Christ with my kids. We'll talk about the details of Christ's birth, the characteristics of Christ, what Christ wants from us and how we can live out our faith. We'll also cover Christmas traditions as well. I'm excited! I'm almost done with the layout. I'm actually revamping an idea I got from a MOPS speaker a few years ago. Each day the kids get to open a gift that relates to the topic. It will take some planning which is why I'm starting early. I have an entire month to get it all ready.

I would love to hear memorable Christ focused traditions from you.

A lesson from Genesis about priorities

Have you ever had so much to do that you only wanted to focus on the tasks at hand even though there were more important priorities to tend to? I've been there many times. Yesterday the Lord taught me a lesson about that.

All week long business paperwork, bills to pay, school papers, etc had begun to collect on my desk making it impossible for me to really see what needed done. I was excited for Friday to arrive because I was hoping that I would have an entire morning to myself at home while Kaleb was at preschool to catch up. The list was long but I would be alone for about 2 hours or more to tackle it. Friday morning arrived and at 5:45am Jeff was sharing that his desk at work was about 3 layers high of papers scattered everywhere. This is not an uncommon conversation. He was sharing some important things that needed to be done and how hard it is for him to keep up. With Jeff's job, he's interrupted many times a day to tend to employees and customers and then when he gets back to his desk, he's got to figure out what he was working on prior. I certainly couldn't handle a job like that! I like to stay focused for an extended time. So, I suggested that he get his paper under control so he can stay on top of things better. After talking a little longer we agreed that maybe I should stop in and help him get organized. This meant my plan A of coming home for a few hours by myself was not going to happen.

Let me back up a few days prior....I pulled out an old Bible study book I've had for probably over 10 years but never have finished it fully. It's called Women of the Bible. Lately I've felt like I wanted to get back to the basics of what it is God has created me for. What should my priorities as a woman be? A great place to research would be scripture. So I dusted off my book and started digging. I just love how God's word is so alive and at work! The Genesis passage I read taught me new truths (or rather reminders of truths I had forgotten) that applied to my marriage. The Lord revealed to me that I was created to be Jeff's companion. To me, that meant that I am Jeff's partner...I've been created to help him enjoy life more fully. While that is also true of Jeff to me, the Lord spoke to my heart about my role to him. How many times do I have a to do list for him yet, I am suppose to be his helper? I let that truth sink in and soften my heart. How could I better his life?

Well, the opportunity came Friday morning when I set aside my to do list, to help him. I spent 2 hours with him in his office and we got so much done. He could actually see the top of his desk! Even though I couldn't really decipher documents, etc I was there to encourage the filling of the trash can. Jeff's a pack rat and I am not. I am good for him b/c I can reason with him into throwing something away and why we don't need it.

Once Kaleb and I returned home we had a quick lunch and Kaleb headed up to bed. He didn't fight me and slept a good while. During his nap time I accomplished all on my to do list! It's so like the Lord to help us when we put his priorities first! There are many afternoons that I can't get much done but yesterday was different and I truly believe its because my heart was in the right place.

Thank you, Lord, that you are constantly shaping me into the wife you created me to be!

To top it off we had a wonderful evening as a family just hanging out together, playing wii, eating hamburgers and french fries, and watching a movie. Later that evening I got a wonderful note from a friend who God is blessing multiple times over because she and her husband are going against the norm and living as they feel called. God blesses us even when we can't see what's ahead.

Home Project

It's been awhile since I've thought about getting ahead with my home. Since Kaleb started preschool I am not home as much as I was before; therefore, leaving me with little time to tend to the house. However, this week I've been encouraged/challenged in the book I use as a resource More Hours in My Day to go through one room each week and totally clean/reorganize it. This coming spring I would love to take my first trip to Ikea to purchase some things for our home. However, I'd like to have a plan before going of what we need replaced and things we'd like to add. This will be a great way for me to go through each room and make a plan. As we've put getting out of debt, saving for our future, and making energy efficient updates to our house a high priority in our budget, we've been living with minimal and mainly old furniture. I can hardly even cut cheese with my knives and my towels and washcloths are the ones from 8 years ago when we got married. Needless to say, it's time for some updates! Little items and some big items.

So, it is my goal to make a plan to get my home done. My goal will be to go through all rooms one by one and have it finished by Thanksgiving. Anyone want to join me???

Time for Hubby

I am learning a few things about marriage:

*kids should not come before it
*Busyness hurts it
*Date night is essential
*It's important to make room in the budget for it
*Communication is key
*When each other's needs are being met, life is enjoyable together
*Husbands need respect from their wives
*Wives need love from their husbands

I've been on this journey of marriage for 8 years and 6 have been with kids involved. The 2 years that were kid-less involved finishing college and starting a new career while being pregnant. Our marriage was not priority. Just getting through life was. If I can encourage new couples or new parents the best advice....take time for your marriage and put it on the calendar weekly. In the last 6 months Jeff and I have only taken time for ourselves 3 times. That's a date once every 2 months. It's not enough. We both are grouchy and miscommunicating on several levels. Yet after a date, we find it easy to love on each other. Just this morning Jeff had to get up at 5am, leave at 5:30am yet he remembered without my asking to load my car up for my appointments today. A total surprise! I feel so loved that he did that for me because I know it was an early morning for him. I also know that when we dated regularly during a season a year ago, this was how we worked together as well. So I know its not just a one time thing. It's a habit we desire to create. Looking forward to our next date night!

Time to breathe

I am really looking forward to this weekend. It is because we have absolutely nothing planned outside of welcoming our cute little 7 month old nephew for a few days. We've been so busy that I'm beginning to schedule down time in our calendar and having to either say NO to things when we reach our max (the rule is now that either Saturday or Sunday MUST be free to be at home each weekend) or put them on our calendar weeks in advance. It's hard to find breathing room to just be at home and do nothing. I always feel like there is something that needs tending to but this weekend I'm going to relax and maybe catch up on a few things.

Two weeks ago I scheduled some solitude time in. It was because its required for a class I'm taking but it was a welcome break. I spent nearly 2 days with no obligations but the Lord. It was quite refreshing and a habit I hope to make a priority. Even one day for just me every now and then would do wonders for my marriage and mothering! I do get overwhelmed easy with the demands of life. I like slower paced schedules and time to just be at home. I love naps, watching chick flicks and reading for hours. It's been awhile since my schedule has allowed those past times so I'm going to begin scheduling them in!

I've also found the need to schedule date nights in with hubby because they won't just happen. Our last date was the beginning of Aug (2 months ago!) and prior to that had been in May (3 months!). That is not what I had in mind when I set our goal to date twice a month! Needless to say everyone and everything else was taking priority in my schedule. So for the next 3 months Jeff now has his name in my calendar and I will work everything else around him. :)

So, I'm looking forward to playing wii with the boys, napping, and whatever else we decide to do while at home this weekend!

Stress reducers

I thought some of these tips were fun (taken from More Hours in My Day by Emilie Barnes and Sheri Torelli) & some of them are ones I already use and find helpful for reducing stress in my life (very practical and random)....

Ones I use:
* write chores on slips of paper and let the kids select one for the week (this keeps variety but I have to say that the boys forget to do what they need so we are still working on how to remember since they switch off on chores each week)
* Each bedroom has a laundry basket and each day that I do laundry we take the clothes to the laundry room to be sorted into our sorting bins (My laundry room is actually my back room where most people walk in so I transformed my coat closet into a laundry sorting area)
* Set your clock 5 -10 min fast but don't tell anyone (Jeff does this to our bedroom clock for early mornings when he doesn't get up right away)
*Make to-do list before going to bed for the next day
* Shop early in the morning or late at night to avoid the busy times (this is huge for me...I shop in the mornings)
* Shop from a grocery list - write list on an envelope and place the coupons inside the envelope that you plan to use
* Keep an extra pair of pantyhose
* Keep a notebook in your purse so you can jot down notes when you think of things
* don't answer the phone during dinner time
* have a morning routine and after school routine that works for your family (do the same thing each day)
* have a key hook or peg shelf for keys, purses, backpacks, etc that you can hang up as soon as you walk in the door
* don't wait until your car's gas tank is almost empty. I fill mine up when it gets to 1/4 of a tank.

New ideas to me I want to try:
*Use turntables under bathroom sinks or in closets to get to items quickly
* Set timer for kids 5 min before it's time to leave so when the timer goes off, they know it's time to go
*designate 1 or 2 nights each week with no TV or gaming system
* have kids select clothing the night before
* remind each family member to keep their area clean
* have a fully equipped emergency kit in the back of your car

I just love transforming my home one little step at a time. It's quite refreshing and not overwhelming at all. I was reading chapter 9 on PAPER in my organizing book. Paper is a huge issue at our house. It collects on my kitchen counter and my office desk. I've gotten a lot better at it over the years but still not where I want to be. I remember seeing a picture from before we had kids and my kitchen table was covered in piles! We even ate at the table surrounded by the piles. At that home I had no counter top space so everything collected on the table. During that time we were both in college and working so we were hardly home. It's a different story now that I'm home the majority of the time.

My counter top most of the time

So, if you have a problem with paper, here are some great tips:

Only handle it once (I've heard this lots of times from lots of places); don't pile it for later

* sort mail as it comes in and other important papers (I included a picture of my new system)So far, it's 2 days later and still looks like this!

* File bills, important papers, etc immediately. We use a large filing cabinet as well as one in my desk drawer. You can also use a small accordion file if you don't have much paper to work with.
* purchase a business card holder from an office supply store to keep business cards in. I always have business cards laying around so I am currently using a holder to keep them all in.
* Set up a Family Calendar Station where you have a master calendar for everyone to see along with any other important info. I've wanted to get a wipe board in my kitchen and set up something like this. It's not happened yet. As the boys get older it will be more important for us to have something like this. In the meantime I just tell my husband his schedule and it works for us. :)

Something else I tackled since it was close by was my husband's junk drawer. He wasn't too thrilled with it but we compromised and moved it. I told him he could keep as much junk as he wanted as long as I didn't have to see it. He now has a junk drawer somewhere else that won't bother me.

BEFORE
AFTER

My kids and media distractions

Am I the only mom that struggles with managing the wii and computer time with my kids? I get so tired of, "Mom, can we play now....can we play now?" In the past I have developed boundaries and systems to help with this but this summer they all got thrown by the wayside. For the past 2 days the boys got their privelege taken away and it was so nice to not hear them asking all the time and me giving in. They know that when they get in trouble, I don't give in. However, I can cave on a really stressful day in keeping every day boundaries, especially if I haven't really thought through what they are.

In my research I have found that kids really shouldn't spend more than 2 hours a day in front of the TV or computer. I'm not saying that I won't bend the rules at time, but this is going to be my goal. Thinking about all the other things that we could do include but not limited to....more time studying the Lord and praying (yes, I'm not just saying this, I actually have a plan to implement it), allowing them to be creative with building and drawing, more time to read and/or play games together. The list could go on and on.

For me, I love routine and schedules so my kids will now have a schedule of when they have the option to play and when they need to find other things to do. I've also scheduled time to be "present" to them. Working from home can be distracting as I always have things to do and its hard for me to stop at times. A schedule with boundaries for me as well helps. So, I'm combining a couple things I've used in the past that have worked into a new and revised plan. My plan includes:

a schedule with options of when it's ok to play
play $$ that serves as their token to play. For example, they will receive 1.5 hours each day of either watching their favorite show, playing wii or computer. They will get $3 ($1 per 30 min) each day AFTER chores are done, they are completely dressed and have followed all rules in the morning with no whining. It will be to my discretion to take away $$ if they disobey and do not follow these rules each morning. I will let them know ahead of time how they can lose $$. They will be able to save $$ to use more on Saturdays (from $$ they've banked through the week) or days off from school. However, a max of $3 per day can be spent Mon-Fri. Sundays = no wii or computer for anyone in the family (a new addition to our Sunday). I'm not too picky on Saturdays. I feel like if we stick to our schedule through the week, they can play more on Saturday if they choose. If we choose to watch a movie as a family or play wii as a family, I will not make them spend their $$ either. I've done this $$ before and it has worked great! I'm just adjusting it to giving them a schedule of when it's ok to spend the $$.

So, I would LOVE to hear what you do to tackle this annoyance in your home. What boundaries do you set for your kids and what activities do you do in place of them?

Wardrobe Basics

Wow, it's been 2 weeks since my last post. Life has been a bit crazy. I had my first mammogram because of some concerns I had after doing a self-exam. My mom was 41 when she had breast cancer so when I came in concerned, there was no messing around! However, this created some unnecessary stress for me for several days. I was physically and emotionally spent but so thankful and praising the Lord that nothing was found. Now I feel like I can get back to real life! The past few weeks have been stressful with other obligations as well but I'm learning to delegate and say NO to the lesser important things. This week looks to be a manageable week with maybe even some down time! YAY!!

Today in my journey to transform my home and life, I read about organizing my wardrobe. I don't have tons of clothes, in fact I just weeded out several pieces recently and find it so much easier to choose clothing! I was finding that a full closet was a bit stressful. I wasn't wearing all the pieces and they were just in the way. After cleaning out my closet, I felt so much better!! I find that I like to stick with simpler pieces that I can mix and match instead of trendy. However, I do plan to go back through all my clothes again as well as hubby's and the boys' this week. Then I'd like to make a list of things we need to get for the fall/winter season.

The best thing I took away from this chapter was:

*If you have not worn a piece of clothing in 1-3 years you either need to store it away or get rid of it.
*Organize shoes and purses with containers or over the door organizers
* store off season clothing in a bin under your bed

I also looked up some basic essentials that all women need in their wardrobe:

1. 2 piece suit in a neutral color (black is best)
2. Black paints that are long enough to wear with heels
3. Jeans that flatter you
4. White button down shirt
5. Sheath dress (neutral color)
6. Sweater Set

Have fun organizing, donating and shopping! :)

Another fun thing I did this week was label my refrigerator. It feels so refreshing to have it organized and labeled so everyone else knows where things go. I think I may continue to other areas of my kitchen as well!

Effective Time Managment tips

Effective Time Management: Some fun tips I just read about and I have found helpful in managing my time...

* Group shopping trips and errands together. Since I live in the country I make sure that my trips to Huntington, Bluffton and FW count!

* Have duplicates: I like to have disinfectant wipes in every bathroom and under my kitchen sink so I don't have to run around. Same is true for other cleaning supplies, toilet paper, etc.

* Take your magazines or other reading material with you when you go for an appointment. I love this idea. I can usually get through a magazine while I'm waiting and they don't pile up.

*Make a to do list and prioritize it. I also like to chunk my time. For example I'll make a list for things I want to do between 7-9am, 9-11am, etc. It helps me to manage my time much better.

*Use a timer....this is HUGE for me. I don't get distracted and I get more things done in a shorter amount of time in order to beat the clock.

* Use your body clock and do things when you have the most energy. For example my body pretty much shuts down at 7pm. I never have anything on my to do list for the evening because I will never get it done. However, early morning is when I get a lot done.

* Put things away where its easiest - for example I always left my purse on the counter only to have it in the way. Solution - hang a hook by the door so that when I come in I can hang it up immediately.

I hope you find these tips time savers for you!

Scheduling & Time Managment

I got a lot of good tips from chapters 4, 5 & 6. I will list my favorites and what I learned:

to do list: I have to say that this is my best tool of the day. I cannot function without a list. There are so many ways you can make a list. I like to make a master list for the week that includes all that I need to do at home, with my business and with ministries I'm involved in. Then each day I like to break my day up into segments of a couple of hours so I know when I'm going to do things. You can use a daily planner for this or I just simply use a small notebook to make notes in. I know of some women who use an index card each day as well. Whatever works for you.

Binder: I have found a great tool is to have a binder that you can file info you need to refer to often. I was finding that I would have these papers piling on my desk because I didn't want to file them long term yet. The solution is a binder with tabs. I include things from school, vacation planning, etc. Whatever you need it to look like.

Calendar: Calendar is so important. If I lose mine, I lose my sanity because my life is completely laid out in it. So many different options, choose the best for your lifestyle.

Filing system: You do want to have a filing system of some sort. Whether its a small crate or a cabinet. I run a business and like to stay really organized so I have a huge cabinet that I use. Not everyone needs something so big.

Next, I'll list some good family management tips:

Chores - delegate chores to children. Something new I'm going to do is put all the chores in a drawing and each week the boys will get to draw out their chores for the week. Keeps things changing for them. I always have a hard time knowing what needs done so here's what my boys will be learning to do (some of these they already do):

feed and water the dog twice a day
set the table for all meals (they will get to choose which plates we use - a great tip from the book)
mop the bathroom floors (they love to use the fun little mop we have)
fold towels
unload dishwasher
take the sheets off all the beds

My boys will need to have their chores done before their favorite morning TV show comes on. I have found when there is routine, there is no arguing about what needs done.

Weekly plan sheet on fridge - this is great for the family or husband to see what is going. I normally verbally tell him and he forgets so this will eliminate communication issues (at least I hope!)

Morning Routine - set a morning routine and you will find that it runs so much smoother. My intention is to do the following each morning (I've gotten off this summer so we'll be starting this again next Monday!)
* Quiet time with the Lord
* Exercise
* Get dressed/make bed
* Boys up and going
* Breakfast/Bible lesson for boys
* Favorite TV show while mom cleans up the kitchen, gets laundry started and checks email quickly
* off to school and the rest of our day

**some tips about your morning routine: first of all I keep my clothes sorted downstairs by my washer/dryer. I try to bring all the clothes down each morning where they are sorted and I can throw in loads as I choose that day. Also, something I've never tried is to have table set for breakfast the night before. We can get in the bad habit of turning the TV on and doing things instead of sitting down to eat together each morning. Also, a breakfast menu plan is great too. I don't normally do a breakfast plan but find we don't eat very healthy at breakfast either. This is a change I'm going to make.

Snack time - I always have issues with this because my boys are always whining right as its time to make dinner...they just can't wait to eat any longer. I'm making a new rule that there are no snacks after 4pm. If they want a snack after that it will have to be fruits or veggies only.

Various charts for the following info:
Family history chart (documenting physicals, etc)
Shopping guide chart (current clothing sizes for everyone, likes/dislikes, etc)
credit card sheets (so all your credit card info is in one place for identify theft or burglary)
Important dates sheet (birthdays, anniversaries, etc)
Important phone numbers sheet
Items loan and borrowed sheet

Going to create my charts now and implement my new routine changes on Monday!

Freezer Cooking

Freezer cooking is something I occasionally do. I find that when I am able to take the time to do it there are several benefits including:
Healthier meals
Less time in the kitchen overall
Less clean up after meals
Less stressed out ME

If you decide you want to try this, I suggest creating a list of your favorite meals and determine what you can make up ahead. Most casseroles can be assembled (make sure to cook the meat first) and then baked when you are ready to eat. I like to figure up how much ground meat I need (hamburger and sausage) and do all of that. If that is the only thing I do, it cuts down on the prep work which is huge. I posted some pics of my day to give you a visual. Some of these I then topped with cheese. I love using the foil 8x8 square pans. I just took a 9x13 recipe and split up into 2 meals for most of these casseroles.

My plan this month:1. Made a list of meals for 4 weeks (I've never stuck with my plan...I do venture away at times)2. Purchased most of the groceries for the month (there are things that will need to be purchased closer time to make the meal)3. Prepared as much food ahead of time that I couldI browned up hamburger for:
spagehetti saucetacos
crescent roll topped cheeseburger casserole
extra for anything else that I might want to use it withI

I browned up sausage for:
homemade pizza
breakfast casseroles/dishes
Extra for anything else I may want to use later

Cooked chicken in a crock pot for half of the day for:chicken enchiladas
chicken and bacon pizza
chicken broccoli ring

I created the following meals that are oven ready:Cheeseburger Supreme (2 meals)Manicotti (2 meals)BBQ meatballsmac & Cheesepotato casserole (2 meals)

I think you could google most of these recipes to find them if you want to try them as most of them have come from various websites such as www.pillsbury.com, www.allrecipes.com and www.familyfun.com. I don't think I could type them all out. :)

It's time to train!

My painful 2 hour grocery shopping trip in one store (I usually go to 3) is a reminder to me that I need to schedule a training session for my boys. Have you ever considered that instead of always fighting with your kids you could do the alternative and teach them how to act when you are not in the heat of the moment? I had never thought that until I met another mom that taught me this. She explained that training sessions need to be set up BEFORE the event happens. That way the kids know how to act beforehand.Today I wished that the training session had already taken place because I was frustrated and had lost about an hour of time because of it. The kids and I were both miserable. In our fast paced culture I find myself brushing past things that I need to focus on, such as certain behaviors from my kids. So, on my "to do" list for the near future will be "train the boys how to act on long shopping trips."

Kaleb's 2010 heart update

Today we learned that Kaleb’s body this past year is growing at a pace that allows his heart valve to keep up. His numbers fluctuate as he grows. If he goes through a growth spurt the numbers can rise. Last year his number was 25 (40 is when we begin talking surgery) and today we found out it is sitting at 16!! We get to wait out another year!! Here is the medical info about Kaleb's condition:

"Aortic Stenosis refers to a condition that causes obstruction to blood flow between the left ventricle and the aorta. There are a variety of causes, including muscular obstruction below the aortic valve, obstruction at the valve itself, or aortic narrowing immediately above the valve.

The most common form of aortic stenosis is obstruction at the valve itself, referred to as aortic valvar stenosis, which is the subject of this section.

The normal aortic valve consists of three thin and pliable valve leaflets. When the left ventricle ejects blood into the aorta, normal aortic valve leaflets spread apart easily and cause no obstruction to outflow of the blood from the heart.

Aortic stenosis occurs when abnormalities of the aortic valve lead to narrowing and obstruction between the left ventricle and the aorta.

The most common abnormality occurs when the aortic valve has only two (instead of three) leaflets. This is called a bicuspid aortic valve (or BAV). Often the valve leaflets are thickened and less pliable than normal, and the lines of separation between them (or "commissures") are fused together to a variable degree. When the aortic valve does not open freely, the left ventricle must work harder to eject blood into the aorta.

To compensate for this additional workload, the muscle of the left ventricle (the myocardium) gradually thickens to provide additional strength to left ventricular ejection. The increased left ventricular muscle, also known as hypertrophy, is rarely a problem itself. Instead, hypertrophy is an indication of significant valve obstruction.

When the aortic valve is severely obstructed, the left ventricular muscle may not be able to compensate satisfactorily. In these very severe, but fortunately rare, instances the left ventricle may fail to pump blood effectively and the patient may develop cardiac failure. If this occurs it is almost always in a newborn infant with very severe valve obstruction. Heart failure rarely occurs later in childhood."

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/heart-encyclopedia/anomalies/avs.htm

As always, the cardiologist always goes into detail about what could happen later on. Today he was telling me about 2 different kinds of valve replacements. One type would use the pulmonary valve for the aortic valve which means he would have 2 valve replacements but it’s the preferred method because then the pulmonary valve would grow with the body. I’m not sure what they would use for the pulmonary replacement, though. So much info to digest at times! This procedure can only be done up until 10 years of age. Riley Hospital is known as the best in the country for doing this procedure. The other option is a mechanical valve and that would require blood thinners the rest of his life. However, he did conclude with, “I hope we don’t have to do either…” At the same time I’m praying, “Lord, I pray we never have to make this decision….”

So, specifically, you can pray that Kaleb will never have to have open heart surgery. If we get to that point, there will be lots of life changes for him and us. We would love to have a full and complete recovery but we are happy to keep doing what we are doing so that he can still live a normal life.

Challenge #3 - Family Mission Satements and Goals

If you are like me, you may hate to set goals. I hate deadlines...it causes me so much stress. However, if I don't set goals, I feel like I stay in the same place. This week we are focusing on creating a family mission statement and setting goals in several areas of our life.

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit." Proverbs 21:5

A simple definition of a goal - a dream with a deadline. Areas to focus on:

Spiritual goals
Physical goals
Family goals
Financial goals
Professional goals
mental goals
social goals
community service goals

As I look over this list, there are only 4 I'm going to focus on right now. Spiritual, physical, financial, and professional. I actually already know them so I will share...

Spiritual - my husband and I have been in a 2 year study on the life of Jesus that will finish up in December. Yet to cover are 2 exams, a retreat, and a book of homework along with lectures twice a month. We are learning so much and have loved investing this time!

Physical - I have wanted to run a 5K for awhile now. However, my body has not been able to run without ankle and knee pain. My goal is to take a year and build up stronger muscles and then begin training next spring for the Fort 4 Fitness 5K in 2011.

Financial - Jeff and I have been following the Dave Ramsey financial plan. Our goal is to build our savings back up from taking out this summer and then by 2011 begin investing. I know many couples our age are already doing this but we chose to get out of debt first (its biblical) and then we trust the Lord to provide as we begin investing for our future.

Professional - Earn my first career car while still keeping my family and the Lord the focus of my life. It's all about organization, time management and balance.

I am also involved in 3 church ministries that I'm continuing to serve in: Mom Life, Worship team (once a month), and supporting my husband in a marriage ministry small group.

And lastly, but not less important is creating a family mission statement. My husband and I finally came up with one that is a scripture verse we feel is so important and have already begun teaching our boys. My goal is to get it in writing on my wall (but I haven't set a date for that yet because I'd like to purchase a plague or something). It is: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all our soul and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

I'd love to hear your family mission statement and/or goals you are working on right now.