Hey There! Do I know you?

Tomorrow I anxiously become best friends with a long time enemy...a full time job.

It's been way too long, but we're old friends and we'll just pick back up right where we left off. Right? WRONG! 

Though I hate to admit it, me and full-time work have had issues in the past. It's like a really bad relationship that I keep getting sucked into. You know the abusive, controlling, I should never have even done this but keep doing it over and over and over anyways type. I always get way too attached. It always gets way too controlling. In the end, nothing good ever comes of it.

But, I'm not the same person I was back then and I think I've found the right one this time. The one God has prepared me for and led me to...a real, live teaching job to call my very own! 

In an effort to keep the ball rolling at home, without the little things & my sweet kiddos falling apart or a certain hubby taking on all the work or me losing my mind feeling overwhelmed, we've been cleaning, organizing, and putting some routines in place to make sure everything gets done and everyone is helping out.

One such thing is setting up chores and allowances for the boys. Our boys have ALWAYS had chores...more like helper expectations. They help with dishes, clean their own room, put away laundry, take out the trash, etc. But, it's always be a rather haphazard method of completion. Now, everyone knows just what to do on a daily basis.

All the chores that don't really need to be done on a daily basis are put in a  cup as extras. They can choose to do extra if they want. These are also the ones momma and daddy will be working through. They're actually quite excited to do all the things they've already been doing. Something about having it written down on a popsicle stick and stuck to the fridge makes it more appealing than it being spoken by a parent. Go figure!

Then of course there's the most exciting part. A new job means we can actually give our kiddos an allowance. While mom and dad will be learning and implementing new budget strategies, our kids will get to do the same. Their allowance is set at a certain amount. They can be fined for not completing their daily chores or rewarded for going above and beyond. Fines come at the cost of $$ or loss of electronics time.

So, each kid has their own wallet, zippered pouch for sorting their allowance between tithing, saving, and spending, and register for tracking all of it. By the end of the month we'll be opening up a savings account for each kid. I think I want to get them tithing envelopes as well. Their spend money stays in their zippered pouch unless we are going shopping or they've asked to spend it on something. Then they can take the money out and put it into their wallet. Controlling, yes I know, but we want them to get in the habit of thinking about what they want to spend their money on and planning it rather than just spending it because they have the money there with them at the time they see something.

I'm excited and hopeful about the system. Updates will follow I'm sure.

Today's to-do list:
Write to do list.
Drink a pot of coffee.
Survey this weeks sales ads.
Plan meals/shopping for the week.
Try not to eat all of the banana bread.
Create Menu Planning/Shopping command center for front of fridge.
Clean and organize master bedroom.
Plead with Nathan to clean the master bathroom.
Drop off dry cleaning.
Eagerly wait for FedEx to drop of my shipment from TN. **see edit below**
Prep for babysitter for tomorrow.

Shipment delivery was originally scheduled for Nathan's day off but was pushed to today. Scheduled to arrive between 12-4pm. Delivered promptly at 430 in the blazing 106 degree AZ sun while Nathan was still at work. All 300 or pounds of stuff made it off the truck, off the pallet, across about 100ft of sidewalk, and now sits at the bottom of our steps. Waiting for Nathan to help when he gets home.

Recycle Update...

Can you check something off your BUCKET LIST if it's something that is on-going?




As part of our household's be more earth-friendly campaign, we started recycling and have been going strong for a couple of months now. The kids are getting in the habit of throwing things in the correct bins and they get so excited each time we make a run to the recycling center to drop off everything. We've found that the center does take all sorts of plastics...but, they only take aluminum cans (like for sodas). Now, I have to figure out what to do with all the veggie, sauce, and soup cans.

Here are before and after pictures of our bins. We used a tree to decorate the paper bin. Any suggestions for decorating the bin designated for plastics?

So...what's next? In regards to healthy, earth-friendly living, we have been attempting to eat more naturally. I should note that this goal is easier in some areas than in others. For instance, buying only fresh fruit is a lot easier (and cheaper for the most part) than buying all the canned and individually packaged fruits. I've found that Morgan is IN LOVE with blue berries, but no one else really likes them. The boys seem to be on board and don't even miss the other stuff. That's about as far as I've gotten. If you have any suggestions on how you incorporate natural living into your daily routine, I'd appreciate the help.

Fumbling Through Pages...and life

"Everybody turn with me to..."

It's Sunday morning and there I was in church fumbling through pages in my Bible and trying to quickly get myself to the same passage my pastor was already reading. Today it was Matthew 7:24-26 and I was struggling with distraction. Distraction from everything!

--could I see Pastor Steve or was I going to have to watch him on the screen (and possible deal with the sound/sight delay)
--where's my pen
--my pants are too tight and my lips are chapped
--and the inevitable can the person in front of me smell my coffee breath which then had me reaching for my purse to grab some gum ~after taking another sip of my coffee~.

I guess something or someone really didn't want me hear the message today.(Yeah, Satan, I'm talking about you so you better listen up!)

Just when I thought everything was in order, I turn the page to the start of Matthew chapter 7 and there I go again reading a devotional at the top of the page rather than going straight to the correct verse. Fortunately, my God was able to overcome my distraction. And, boy, did he ever!!!

Last night, I sat crying over all the crazy dreams and desires and life experiences and yada yada yada. Too much to want and be. Too little time and money to do it. Flopping around like a fish out of water. Unable to go, do, be, ...

Just before bed, when all is suppose to be winding down and getting quiet, my heart/brain pops into overdrive. Why do I have to a flopper? I can make a ~Want~Wish~Dream~Hope~Give~Do~BE!!!~Bucket List. Right? RIGHT?? By the way, you totally have to do the Stevie Wonder head shaking thing and sway your body when you read that!

Couple that with a message ~SO PERFECT~ and even that distracting little devotional which I will be studying later since it's titled PRIORITIES: Planning Your Days...lets just say my head is being held PRETTY high right now. I'm quite certain this high, like many highs in life, will be followed by a low or two, BUT the ride should be interesting. 

God, as always, intends great things for me. Even in the little, day-to-day things...He has a plan and gives me the desire and ability to fulfill His plan. It's the dreams and wishes of my heart that will help keep me moving and growing.  

So...stay tuned...