Full time employee & Full Time Mommy

Weekly Goals-Finally an update!

2012-05-21T23:30:00.000-07:00

Weekly Goals 5/20/12

Wow! My life has been crazy lately and I guess I have just been lazy with writing and updating my goals. I think I have been in burnout mode. I’m hoping by writing my goals this week I might actually get something accomplished or at least moving in the right direction.

Goals for Week of May 20

Personal

1. Need to repeat Week one of Couch Potato

2. Finish Goals book

3. Read the Proverbs 31 Book-at least 2 chapters

4. Use the elliptical at least 3 times this week.

5. Walk during lunch.

6. Find a Pinterest project.

Marriage

1. Find one book to read together.

Children

1. Read to the kids this week.

2. Work on Bible Class material.

3. Wean pacifier from Sophia (ongoing).

4. Potty Train Jackson (ongoing).

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Invite someone over next month for dinner.

Home

1. Find a new recipe to try.

Goals April 29, 2012

2012-04-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

Weekly Goals Update 4/29/12

Whew! What a busy weekend, but I got a lot done, a lot marked off my list. Here is an update from last week.

Here are my goals from last week:

Goals for Week of April 22

Personal

1. Need to repeat Week one of Couch Potato

2. ~~Continue reading Acts, read 4 chapters.~~

Marriage

1. Find one book to read together.

Children

1. ~~Read to the kids this week.~~

2. Wean pacifier from Sophia (ongoing).

3. Potty Train Jackson (ongoing).

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. ~~Invite the someone over next month for dinner.~~

Home

1. ~~Find a new recipe to try.~~

Goals for week of April 29

Personal

1. Use treadmill 3 times this week.

2. Repeat Week one of Couch Potato

3. Find a Pinterest project

4. Find a new book series to read.

Marriage

1. Find one book to read together.

Children

1. Take them to the library.

2. Work on Bible Class material

3. Potty train Jackson (ongoing)

4. Wean Sophia from pacifier (ongoing)

Ministry

1. Prepare for the Nash’s to come over.

2. Write at least one handwritten note this week.

Blogging

1. Work on blog posts for 31 ways to pray for your children.

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Weekly Goals Update 4/15/12

2012-04-16T23:30:00.000-07:00

I took last week off from posting and goal setting, because I took a few days off from work. That doesn’t mean though that I slowed down any. In fact I did catch up on a lot of my to do list. I finished my Digging Deep Study for this month, caught up on scrapbooking (which means that even Easter is scrapbooked), worked on potty training (we came a long way this weekend), Sophie doesn’t have the pacifier during the day except for naps, had company, and kept the house cleaned. It was a great week.

I am starting some new goals this week, which mainly is geared toward health. Some people know about this and some don’t, but I went through a lot in middle and high school due to my weight and I DON’T want that for my daughter. I honestly don’t care how much she weighs, as long as she is healthy, she will always be beautiful to me. I just don’t want her to go through the emotional pain I went through. So I bought an elliptical last week, using it 2-3 times a week, and then going to try to start the Couch Potato-5K program today. Supposedly anyone who does this program can run a 5K in 9 weeks. That would be so awesome!

Here are my goals this week:

Goals for Week of April 16

Personal

1. Day one of Couch Potato-5K

2. Start reading Acts

3. Look for a wreath project on Pinterest.

Marriage

1. Find a book to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson. (ongoing)

3. Start taking the pacifier away from Sophia, only let her have it at nap time, bed time, and church. (ongoing)

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week. (Shannon)

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Weekly Goals Update

2012-04-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

Weekly Goals Update 4/1/12

Here is my weekly goal update. I made some progress last week, caught up on Jackson’s and Sophia’s scrapbooks, now to catch up on the family album. I also finished one book and made progress on my Digging Deep Study. I don’t like to flip flop back and forth, so I’m not going to do it chronological order, but book order. I hope that isn’t horrible. I want to finish one book of the Bible before I start another book.

My goals last week were:

Goals for Week of March 25

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. I need to finish the book of Matthew this week for my Digging Deep study. I know this isn’t assigned until April, but there is a lot of reading in this study so if I can stay ahead it will be better.

Marriage

~~1. 1.~~ ~~Read two chapters in my book called “Living Together in Knowledge”.~~

Children

1. ~~Work on Bible class material.~~

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. ~~Start taking the pacifier away from Sophia, only let her have it at nap time, bed time, and church.~~

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. ~~Write one handwritten note to someone this week.~~

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Weekly Goals April 1, 2012

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. I need to finish the book of Matthew this week for my Digging Deep study.

Marriage

1. Pray every day for my husband.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. Start taking the pacifier away from Sophia, only let her have it at nap time, bed time, and church.

4. Go to library.

5. Pray for the precious souls God has entrusted me with.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

2. Write two handwritten note to someone this week.

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Weekly Goals update 3/25/12

2012-03-26T23:30:00.000-07:00

Here is my weekly goals update. I actually made some progress on my scrapbooking. I’m so excited. I still need to do more work, but at least I have some progress. YAY! Below my goals for last week you will find this week’s goals.
My goals last week were:

Goals for Week of March 18

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. Finish Isaiah.

3. Spray paint cookie sheet for pinterest project, B-Day gift for Paula.

Marriage

1. Start new marriage book.

2. Date night, Friday, March 23 to see the Hunger Games

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Goals for Week of March 25

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. I need to finish the book of Matthew this week for my Digging Deep study. I know this isn’t assigned until April, but there is a lot of reading in this study so if I can stay ahead it will be better.

Marriage

1. Read two chapters in my book called “Living Together in Knowledge”.
Children

2. Work on Bible class material.

3. Potty Train Jackson

4. Start taking the pacifier away from Sophia, only let her have it at nap time, bed time, and church.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

Home

1. Try new recipe.

2012-03-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Money Saving Mom’s Budget Book Review

Crystal Pain is the author of Money Saving Mom’s Budget Book Review. She provides helpful tips on how to prioritize your life and your finances. Nothing fancy with this book, just the basics. This is a great book for those starting out or those that are trying to get on their feet, or rather back on their feet.

Paine explains how you can use seven rules to manage your finances.

Set goals
Cut down on clutter
Set up a budget
Use only cash
Use coupons
Never pay retail
Choose contentment

While some of these rules are very basic, some are a little more complicated, such as setting up a budget and using coupons. Paine provides with her audio book, budget worksheets, which are extremely helpful. Pain also provides specific details on how to use coupons and how to play the drugstore game. She also goes into details about time management and meal planning, which will also save you more money than you might realize.

I would recommend the Money Saving Mom’s Budget for any mom looking to get a grip on her finances, coupons, clutter, and time management. This isn’t solely about finances, but how other areas of your life can affect your financial situation.

Disclosure Notice: I was permitted to listen to a copy of this audio book for review purposes. I was not otherwise compensated for the review. My review is unbiased.

Weekly Goals Update

2012-03-19T21:00:00.000-07:00

Weekly Goals Update 3/18/12

Here is my weekly goals update. I made some progress, a busy week as always. Maybe I will actually get to work on my scrapbook this week, I hope so! I need to get that caught up so I can feel better. Below my goals from last week update, you will find my goals for this week.

My goals last week were:

Goals for Week of March 11

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. ~~Read more in Isaiah, at least 2 chapters.~~

3. ~~Look for a pinterest project to make.~~

Marriage

1. Start new marriage book.

Children

1. ~~Work on Bible class material.~~

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. ~~Go to the Library.~~

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. ~~Prepare for having Cronnin’s over for dinner.~~

Blogging

1. ~~Write a post for the blog, other than weekly goal updates.~~

Home

1. ~~Look for a new recipe to try.~~

2. ~~Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.~~

Goals for Week of March 18

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. Finish Isaiah.

3. Spray paint cookie sheet for pinterest project, B-Day gift for Paula.

Marriage

1. Start new marriage book.

2. Date night, Friday, March 23 to see the Hunger Games

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

Home

1. Try new recipe.

Hospitality

2012-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

Hospitality that’s my theme for this year. I believe as Christian women we are commanded by God to be hospitable, to open our homes and hearts to others, to be a servant to others. One of the ways I am trying to be more hospitable this year is that I’m trying to invited a different family each month over to the house for dinner. So far we are in our third month and our third family is coming over tomorrow night. It is never anything extravagant or even difficulty; I’ve used my crockpot all three times. That way I can start at the beginning of the day, go work on other things or attend other functions and then be back at home in time for our guests to arrive.

Notice earlier I didn’t say that God called or asks us to be hospitable. He commanded us to be hospitable. In 1 Peter 4:9, it says “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Also in Titus 1 we are read about the qualifications of an elder, one qualification is that he must be hospitable. Let me stop right there, some people might argue well if men are the only ones who can be elders then the men are the ones to be hospitable. While it is true the elder himself should be hospitable, it can’t truly happen if his wife isn’t on board. The wife does most, if not all, the cooking, cleaning, and prepping for guests, if she isn’t hospitable then nothing will happen.

Finally the Proverbs 31 wife opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. We need to be hospitable not only in our homes, but in our communities. We need to help each other, take food to a family that is struggling with illness, job loss, death or some other trial. Give money to organizations that help people, donate coats for the cold, donate food to a pantry, etc… There are many ways we can be hospitable and show God’s love. Please comment and give suggestions I know I for one am always open to new ways to show God’s love.

Weekly Goals update

2012-03-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

Weekly Goals Update 3/12/12

Here is my weekly goals update. I made some progress, a busy week as always. Next week’s schedule seems a little slow, maybe I will actually get to work on my scrapbooking. J

My goals last week were:

Goals for Week of March 5

Personal

1. ~~Finish Money Saving Mom Audio Book.~~

2. Catch up on Scrapbooking

3. ~~Read more in Isaiah, at least 2 chapters.~~

Marriage

1. ~~Find another marriage book, didn’t like the one I was reading.~~

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. Go to the Library.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. ~~Take meal to the Thomas’ this week.~~

Home

1. ~~Try a crockpot meal.~~

2. ~~Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.~~

Goals for Week of March 11

Personal

1. Catch up on Scrapbooking

2. Read more in Isaiah, at least 2 chapters.

3. Look for a pinterest project to make.

Marriage

1. Start new marriage book.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. Go to the Library.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. Prepare for having Cronnin’s over for dinner.

Blogging

1. Write a post for the blog, other than weekly goal updates.

Home

1. Look for a new recipe to try.

2. Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.

Weekly Goals Update March 4, 2012

2012-03-05T21:00:00.000-08:00

Weekly Goals Update 3/4/12

Here is my weekly goals update. I made some progress, even though it was another crazy, busy week, that included a quick trip to Johnson City for a friends 40^th birthday party on Saturday. But we had great fun.

My goals last week were:

Goals for week-2/26/12

Personal

1. ~~Find an audio book. (Money Saving Mom Audio Book)~~

2. Catch up on Scrapbooking

3. ~~Start reading Isaiah.~~

Marriage

1. ~~Read chapter in marriage book.~~
2. ~~See if there is a book Jason wants us to read together.~~

(He is looking into something.)

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. ~~Plan vacation to Atlanta???~~

3. Potty Train Jackson

4. ~~Get things ready for pictures on Saturday.~~

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. ~~Schedule the Cronin’s to come over for dinner in March. (17^th)~~

3. ~~Figure out meal to make for the Thomas’ (Chicken-N-Dumplings)~~

4. ~~Get things ready for Wednesday night celebration.~~

5. ~~Get prize for Claire and Owen for knowing the memory verse.~~

Home

1. Try a crockpot meal.

2. ~~Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.~~

Goals for Week of March 5

Personal

1. Finish Money Saving Mom Audio Book.

2. Catch up on Scrapbooking

3. Read more in Isaiah, at least 2 chapters.

Marriage

1. Find another marriage book, didn’t like the one I was reading.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Potty Train Jackson

3. Go to the Library.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. Take meal to the Thomas’ this week.

Home

1. Try a crockpot meal.

2. Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.

Weekly Goals Update

2012-02-27T21:30:00.000-08:00

Weekly Goals Update 2/26/12

Here were my goals from last week. I didn’t get all my goals completed last week, but I made progress, that is always good. Below the update for last week are my goals for the current week. I need to catch up on my Digging Deeper Bible Study.

Goals for week-2/20/12

Personal

1. ~~Finish 1 Kings.~~

2. Find an audio book.

3. Catch up on Scrapbooking

4. ~~Get hangers on prayer boards~~

5. ~~Find a project on Pinterest to do.~~

Marriage

1. Read chapter in marriage book.

2. See if there is a book Jason wants us to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Plan vacation to Atlanta???

3. Potty Train Jackson

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. ~~Prepare for the Vanderwende’s visit on Saturday night.~~

Financial

1. ~~Work on budget~~

2. ~~Cancel pest control~~

Home

1. Try a crockpot meal.

2. ~~Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.~~

Goals for week-2/26/12

Personal

1. Find an audio book.

2. Catch up on Scrapbooking

3. Start reading Isaiah.

Marriage

Read chapter in marriage book
See if there is a book Jason wants us to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Plan vacation to Atlanta???

3. Potty Train Jackson

4. Get things ready for pictures on Saturday.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. Schedule the Cronin’s to come over for dinner in March.

3. Figure out meal to make for the Thomas’

4. Get things ready for Wednesday night celebration.

5. Get prize for Claire and Owen for knowing the memory verse.

Home

1. Try a crockpot meal.

2. Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.

Weekly Goals Update

2012-02-20T09:00:00.004-08:00

Weekly Goals Update 2/20/12

Here were my goals from last week. I didn’t get all my goals completed last week, Sophia was sick most of the week and we ended up buying a new car on Saturday, so it was a busy week. Hopefully I can catch up on my goals this week, among other things.

Below the update for last week are my goals for the current week. I need to catch up on my Digging Deeper Bible Study.

Goals for week-2/13/12

Personal

1. Finish 2 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study and start 1 Kings

2. Start an audio book, find one.

3. Catch up on Scrapbooking

4. Buy & glue hangers on prayer boards.

Marriage

1. Read one chapter in marriage book.

2. See if there is a book Jason has thought of for us to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material with Jackson

2. Continue working n potty training with Jackson.

3. Read aloud books to the kids this week.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Find two people to send cards to for encouragement. –GOT ONE CARD SENT

Home

1. Try crockpot meal.

2. Keep up with laundry & dishes

Goals for week-2/20/12

Personal

1. Finish 1 Kings.

2. Find an audio book.

3. Catch up on Scrapbooking

4. Get hangers on prayer boards

5. Find a project on Pinterest to do.

Marriage

1. Read chapter in marriage book.

2. See if there is a book Jason wants us to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material.

2. Plan vacation to Atlanta???

3. Potty Train Jackson

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Write one handwritten note to someone this week.

2. Prepare for the Vanderwende’s visit on Saturday night.

Financial

1. Work on budget

2. Cancel pest control

Home

1. Try a crockpot meal.

2. Keep up with laundry, dishes, and cleaning.

A Wise King, A Wise Ruling

2012-02-18T13:33:00.000-08:00

King Solomon didn’t ask God for wealth and long life, but a discerning heart to govern the people and to distinguish right from wrong. After God granted him what he asked for, King Solomon had to use his wisdom in making a judgment concerning a child and a mother. Two women lived in a house together, one woman’s child died during the night. Before the other woman woke up, the dead child’s mother switched the babies. The dead child’s mother claimed the living child as her own. The women went to the King for a ruling. King Solomon said to split the child in half and then each woman could have half of the child. The child’s mother said no, no, don’t kill the baby, and said to give the other woman the living child. The dead child’s mother said, to cut the child in two and neither could have him. King Solomon spoke wisely and said not to kill the child and told them who the mother was of the living baby. The mother of the living baby was the one who was quick to give him up, so he could live. What love this mother must have had for her child. I can only imagine how she felt, when she said to let the other woman have him. She thought at least he would be alive; she couldn’t bear to see her baby killed. King Solomon was wise in how he handled this situation, he know the woman that was willing to give up her beloved baby would be the real mother.

Jackson's 3rd Birthday Interview

2012-02-17T21:00:00.000-08:00

Jackson’s 3^rd Birthday Interview

I saw this on Pinterest and decided to do it. I am looking forward to seeing how his answers change over the years.

1. What’s your name?

Jackson

2. How old are you?

3 (holds up 3 fingers)

3. What is your favorite color?

Blue

4. Who is your best friend?

My tall friends. The Ruiz girls at church are tall and Jackson refers to them as his tall friends. J

5. What is your favorite animal?

Giraffe

6. What do you want to be when you grow up?

A monster grabber.

7. What is your favorite movie?

Monsters movie

8. What is your favorite book?

Goldilocks

9. What makes you happy?

Playing with friends.

10. What makes you sad?

Not being able to play with friends.

11. What is your favorite food?

For some reason Jackson said salad. Jackson NEVER eats salad.

12. What is your favorite song to sing?

Big Bad Wolf

13. What game(s) do you like to play?

Dartboard

Jackson's 3rd Birthday Party

2012-02-13T15:21:00.000-08:00

Week of February 13-Goals

2012-02-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

Weekly Goals Update 2/6/12

Here were my goals from last week. I didn’t get all my goals completed last week. We had some excitement. Jackson got hurt in gymnastics class on Thursday night. We thought he might have broken his foot, so we headed off to the emergency. Thankfully he is okay. Then Saturday was his 3^rd birthday party. If I can figure out how to post pictures to the blog I will post some pictures later. Then on Sunday after all evening and all night of Sophia not being able to keep anything done we ended up back in the emergency room. Sophia ended up having a stomach bug, was dehydrating, and just felt plan awful. She is doing some better today. Actually right now, she is playing, thankfully, one of the few times she has let go of me over the past couple of days.

Below the update for last week are my goals for the current week. I need to catch up on my Digging Deeper Bible Study.

Goals for week-2/6/12

Personal

1. Read 2 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study

2. ~~Finish the book “Churched”~~

3. Start the audio book.

4. Catch up on Scrapbooking

Marriage

1. Read one chapter in marriage book.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material with Jackson

2. Continue working n potty training with Jackson.

3. ~~Try out Baby Walker with Sophia~~

4. ~~Get ready for Jackson’s birthday party!~~

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Find two people to send cards to for encouragement.

2. ~~Nail down time and date for the Vanderwende’s~~

Home:

1. Try crockpot meal.

2. ~~Clean playroom.~~

3. ~~Keep up with laundry & dishes~~

Goals for week-2/13/12

Personal

1. Finish 2 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study and start 1 Kings

2. Start an audio book, find one.

3. Catch up on Scrapbooking

4. Buy & glue hangers on prayer boards.

Marriage

1. Read one chapter in marriage book.

2. See if there is a book Jason has thought of for us to read together.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material with Jackson

2. Continue working n potty training with Jackson.

3. Read aloud books to the kids this week.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Find two people to send cards to for encouragement.

Home:

1. Try crockpot meal.

2. Keep up with laundry & dishes

Weekly Goals Update 2/6/12

2012-02-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

Weekly Goals Update 2/6/12

Here were my goals from last week. I completed pretty much everything, except sending out cards. I’ve got to get better at that. I have one person in mind for a card that I will send today. I also need to research about a vacation for us. Below the update for last week are my goals for the current week, mainly I am focused on a birthday party this week for Jackson! He will be 3, I can’t believe it.

Personal

1. ~~Read 1 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study.~~

2. ~~Find a new book to start reading.~~

3. ~~Find a new audio book to listen to.~~

4. ~~Complete Prayer boards for gifts this week.~~

5. ~~Color my hair.~~

6. ~~Print Sallie Mae Statements for taxes and work on taxes.~~

Marriage

1. ~~Read one chapter in marriage book.~~

2. ~~Go on a date on Saturday night.~~

Children

1. ~~Go over Bible Class Materials with Jackson.~~

2. ~~Begin Gymnastics on Thursday.~~

3. Research a possible vacation in Atlanta to show Jason and option other than the Wilderness.

4. ~~Work on potty training Jackson.~~

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family:

1. Find two people who need encouraging and send them a card.

2. ~~Invite a family over for dinner in February.~~

Home:

1. ~~Try one of my crock pot meals.~~

2. ~~Wednesday, put up Birthday balloon for Jackson with his picture.~~

Goals for this week-2/6/12

Personal

1. Read 2 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study

2. Finish the book “Churched”

3. Start the audio book.

4. Catch up on Scrapbooking

Marriage

1. Read one chapter in marriage book.

Children

1. Work on Bible class material with Jackson

2. Continue working on potty training with Jackson.

3. Try out Baby Walker with Sophia

4. Get ready for Jackson’s birthday party!

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family

1. Find two people to send cards to for encouragement.

2. Nail down time and date for the Vanderwende’s

Home:

1. Try crockpot meal.

2. Clean playroom.

3. Keep up with laundry & dishes

Titus 2

2012-02-06T18:30:00.000-08:00

Being a Titus 2 wife, mother, and woman is not an easy task always, but it is a God commanded task. I’m not saying that women can’t work outside the home, as some people would say. I don’t think we can say it is a sin for a woman to work outside the home. I work outside the home, what I am saying it is a sin for us as wives and mothers to neglect our homes and our families. Some versions of the Bible say we are to be “busy at home” some say “keepers at home”. Either way I think it means the same thing. We are to make our families and our home a priority. One way our homes can be a priority is to keep them clean, organized, and welcoming to our family and to our friends. I am not saying the home has to be spotless, mine is far from spotless. My home has plenty of clutter; with two small children we tend to have toys strewn from one end of the house to the other. However I am never embarrassed or having to rush through the house to clean it up if I see someone pulls in the driveway, my sink is never overflowing with dishes nor is the laundry basket. We need to keep our homes up, not just for company, but in actuality we should be keeping our homes up mainly for our own family. A home that is clean, organized, and not too cluttered makes a safe haven for our family. What person wants to come home to a messy and disorganized house, this can cause a person to be anxious. People prefer to come home to a nice clean and comfortable house. We want our families, husband and children, to want to come home at the end of the day, to enjoy being in their home. If they can find their clothes, toys, books, and know there is a meal waiting or soon to be completed, they will want to be there.

I’ve mainly talked about the home as far as keeping it clean and meeting the physical needs of the family but the home is also where the family’s spiritual needs are meet. The home and us as wives and mothers need to be the soft place for our husband and children to fall. We need to make kind hearted and soft-spoken to them. Treat our husbands and children with patience and love, always willing to give a listening ear.

**If there are any specific topics you would like me to discuss please let me know. I’m trying to work harder at my posts, and I need to do more research on things. It is just trying to find the time to research that is so difficult.

Weekly Goals-Week of January 2012

2012-01-30T19:00:00.000-08:00

I am working on my goals for 2012 and am making progress, but I think something that would be very helpful is for me to breakdown my goals into weekly goals so I can see progress. Here are this week’s goals.

Personal

1. Read 1 Samuel for the Digging Deeper Bible Study.

2. Find a new book to start reading.

3. Find a new audio book to listen to.

4. Complete Prayer boards for gifts this week.

5. Color my hair.

6. Print Sallie Mae Statements for taxes and work on taxes.

Marriage

1. Read one chapter in marriage book.

2. Go on a date on Saturday night.

Children

1. Go over Bible Class Materials with Jackson.

2. Begin Gymnastics on Thursday.

3. Research a possible vacation in Atlanta to show Jason and option other than the Wilderness.

4. Work on potty training Jackson.

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family:

1. Find two people who need encouraging and send them a card.

2. Invite a family over for dinner in February.

Home:

1. Try one of my crock pot meals.

2. Wednesday, put up Birthday balloon for Jackson with his picture.

Prayer

2012-01-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

Today I was reading Romans 8:26-39 and while contemplating the words in this scripture a peace came over me about certain situations right now. Sometimes Christians don’t know how to pray or rather maybe what to pray for........Surely I am not the only one that has felt like this at times. Sometimes there are situations and issues and we don’t know what to pray about or what to ask God for, but God searches our hearts and knows the mind of the Spirit, and the Spirit intercedes for God’s people. Wow, what a wonderful lesson. God knows our hearts, He knows what is on our minds, and He knows our needs, wants, and desires. All things were for the good of those who love the Lord. This doesn’t mean that we will always get what we want, it means that we will ALWAYS get what we need and we will always be protected.

I don’t know about you, but that brings a peace to me that is not explainable. So much is going on in my life and I have so many cares and concerns, but God knows them, even when I can’t figure out how to pray about them. Praise the Lord, He knows what is on my heart.

Habits of Happy Mothers

2012-01-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

I am listening to the audio book The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers by Meg Meeker. This book will honestly change the way you look at yourself as a mother. The first habit she discusses is that we need to understand our value as a mother. It is hard to see that we are valuable sometimes, there is always too much to do, kids misbehaving, etc… It is easy to realize when are kids are small that they need us, to care for their basic needs, but it is hard to grasp just how precious we are as mothers. Our children’s world can be changed just by the mood we are in on a given day. We are loved by our kids, even when we might yell at them when they didn’t do anything to deserve it, they still love their mommies. We are more valuable than we realize. Feel good about who you are as a mother and feel good about the job you are doing.

Submissive wife?

2012-01-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

I will share my thoughts on the subject, but would love any input from the readers. The dictionary states the definition of submission to be:

“inclined or ready to submit; unresistingly or humbly obedient: submissive servants.”

Humbly is a key word in this definition. Humble is not proud or arrogant. A person that doesn’t have a need to be superior to anyone. Humble submission is what we should strive for when it comes to being a submissive wife. There are so many jokes and outcries about being a submissive wife. If you are one, you are made fun of sometimes my friends and family. Even we joke, when my husband asks me to do something and I do it, I always laugh and say “See I’m a good submissive wife”. We ALL joke about it, and I think that is okay. God wants us to have fun, but HE also wants and frankly expects that we obey his commands. He commands women to be submissive to their husbands. I don’t believe God wants us to be submissive because he thinks we are less important than men. I think God believes women should be respected and put on a type of pedestal. I don’t mean that women are to be worshipped, but their husbands are to care for them, protect them, and provide for their needs. God wants us to be submissive to protect us; by being submissive we could lead happier, more fulfilled, and more peaceful lives.

In Ephesians 5:21-33, we read about being submissive to one another and wives submit yourselves to your husband, as you do to the Lord. Husbands are also commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church and as their own bodies. I truly believe that if our husbands are loving us the way God commanded they won’t ask or expect anything from us that either we aren’t already willing to give or do, or that isn’t in our best interest. Husbands that love us as the Lord loved the church always have our best interest at heart. Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions. I’m working on some other topics. I’m in the Digging Deeper Bible study, so I may use that as a topic for some of my posts. Thank you for listening.

References:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/submissive

Goals for 2012

2012-01-06T09:24:00.001-08:00

I have been inspired to write goals for this year, not resolutions, but goals. These are things I want to achieve or do in my life. Feel free to comment and let me know what your goals are. I would love to hear them.

Goals for 2012

Personal:

Complete the Digging Deeper Bible Study

Read through 12 books

Listen to 12 audiobooks

Take Baby steps on becoming healthier. Work out more, eat healthier.

Complete one project a month from Pinterest.

Marriage:

Go on at least one date every quarter

Read 4 books together

Read at least one book on marriage

Children

Have regular dates/outings with each child individually.

Work on their Bible Class material with them.

Swimming Lessons for Jackson.

Go on at least one family vacation, just the four of us.

Go to the library at least once a month.

Read aloud books to the kids.

Potty Train Jackson

Ministry/Friendship/Extended Family:

Write at least two handwritten notes every month to encourage someone.

Continue being involved in our church.

Invite at least one family over a month for dinner. Become more hospitable.

Blogging

Baby steps.

Start making weekly posts to the blog. Write ahead and schedule when they will post.

Financial:

Increase offering to church by $10.

Give to those in need.

Save for a new to us car

Build Sophia’s savings up to $2,000 by the time she is 2 to be equal to her brother.

Pay off credit card and my student loan.

Home Improvements:

Bathroom makeover/closet addition

Proverbs 31-Godly Woman

2011-03-15T09:06:00.001-07:00

If you would take a look with me at the example used all the time of a Godly woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. Up until this past year I used to think I failed miserably at trying to live up to this “perfect” woman; however someone had me recently look at these verses again, through a new perspective. While I am still nowhere near perfect I do feel better about being a working mom. If you look at these verses this lady was a working mom, whether she took her children with her not is not known, but she did conduct business outside the home. In verse 16 it says that she bought fields, planted vineyards, and used her earnings. In verse 18, it says that she saw to it that her profits were good. She made money for her family. The Proverbs 31 woman also had servants! Can you believe that? You know what that means, she didn’t do everything in her house with her own hands, and she hired servants to help out. This lady was a good manager of her household, which means she also knew when to delegate tasks. So if I want to hire someone to clean up a brush pile, or take down a tree, or even clean my house, then it is okay…….but as managers we must keep in perspective the finances of our house. If we don’t have the money to hire someone to help then we need to either figure out a bartering system or do the chores ourselves.
As I read Proverbs 31, I think that if we strive to be the woman whose husband can trust and praise her, whose children call her blessed and who fears the Lord, then all these things will fall into place, our household and our work. I know, for one, that I love to hear my husband say good things about me, sometimes I don’t hear it personally but other people will tell me, Jason was bragging about how much money you saved at the grocery store the other day, or Jason said how wonderful you did this or that…….I know then that he does appreciate the things I do around the house and that I must be doing pretty good or he wouldn’t be “singing my praises”. I’m not perfect, I’m sure there again Jason would probably be the first to tell you that, but I do try very hard to manage my household and my work.
Ultimately every mom is a working mom, whether you have a job outside the home or not. I pray that one day the mommy war will end and we will encourage each other in our day to day lives and in the decisions we make for our families. As a working mom I have heard much criticism, such as I must not really care for my child because I work full-time, or that I must miss a lot because I work full-time. I do miss my son a lot, but I also know that I work because I care about him. I am working to provide for his needs.

Let's hear it for the Working Mommas!

2011-03-12T07:54:00.001-08:00

I hear women all the time that believe their calling is to be a stay at home mommy, which is great! My best friend is a stay at home mommy and I completely support that, as she also completely supports me being a working mommy. There are times in my life where I wish things would have worked out so that I could stay home full time, but financially we can’t afford that. I once had a lady tell me if you really wanted to stay home with your kids you would find a way. My response to her was, yes I could find a way, but you know what we would be living out of my car, what kind of life is that? I still see, even in today’s modern society, people just assume that the husband is the breadwinner and the wife’s salary is just the icing on the cake, but for my family it is the other way around. If I didn’t work, we wouldn’t have a home and we wouldn’t have health insurance. While I’ve had my fair share of trouble finding the balance between work and home, I believe I am doing a good job at keeping the balance. My family always always comes first. In the meantime I have to remember one of the reasons I work is to take care of my family, not necessarily to give them everything they want, because trust me that doesn’t happen, but it is to provide for them. Because I work, my family has a roof over their head, clothes on their back, doctors they can visit when they need to and food on their table. So please let us stop the Mommy wars and just support each other in what we choose to do, because every good mom has to make this decision and every good mom chooses the path that is best for THEIR family. The path that is best for my family is for me to work.