• Tuesday, December 26, 2006 - SHARE and Tell: Goals for 2007
It seems as though over the past few months all I’ve been doing is re-evaluating me, our homeschool and our schedule. Our family has been going through a lot of changes and “flexibility” seems to be the buzz word around here (I will share more about our changes soon, but for now will say that we have been called to a "long-term, short-distance" mission field that we've been doing since September). Now, with the new year approaching, I find myself ready to make the changes necessary to create improvements and listening for the Lord’s voice in the steps to take. I’ll be making some changes around here over the next couple of months as the Lord leads… and time allows.
A few of the changes being made around here include:
A schedule that is more flexible, prioritizing in order of importance so I can cross off the things that get done. I'm hoping that instead of putting time constraints on myself (and then getting frustrated as the day doesn't go according to MY plan) that this type of schedule will insure me getting done with the things that absolutely MUST get done for the day and keep me focused on what's really important.I also will be weighing things out to make sure I’m no longer doing more than I can handle.I have a hard time saying no, and even though I’m a full-time stay-at-home-homeschooler… I DON’T have time for as much as I’d like to think!A better schedule would help me to see that and be less willing to do things that only stress me out, and sacrifice my family at the same time.
A list of monthly bills that need to be paid. Since my husband takes care of the financial aspects of his work, I help out at home by taking care of ours; however, I haven't paid things in a timely fashion and have no "system" in doing so.
A "central" calendarthat will include ALL of our appointments. Right now we have a couple and it's confusing, as well as hard to keep up with all we have going on. I love to have things on the computer, but with our recent traveling, the need for a calendar with us at all times to refer to has become neccessary!
Our homeschool curriculum & "life skills"are being changed as well.With the death of another homeschool mom, I find myself seeking what is most important for my children to learn.I’ve always felt that school was more than just reading and math, but in all honesty, I’ve still gotten “caught up” in the “public school mentality” a lot of the time and struggled to put in the things that others might think are “unnecessary”.Character DOES matter, as well as purity and being able to cook… I’m terribly convicted when I think of the days that I skipped a “life skills” lesson to cram in some extra time of math, or missed a Bible reading to the kids because phonics needed more attention.If I were no longer here, what would I have taught my children that no one else could teach from my perspective?I’m still seeking the Lord in all of this, and will share more as we make changes…
A cleaning routine that works.Okay… how many are laughing at that?Wouldn’t we ALL like that?!But seriously… I’m so tired of playing “catch up cleaning” and I’m determined to get my home in order once and for all!2007 is going to be the year!The Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge is coming again in April, but before then there will be a COLOSSAL CLUTTER CLEAN-UP challenging us to get the clutter out of our homes so we can actually “deep clean” our homes in April! (More information on that soon!)
My attitude and walk with God… With our call to ministry, my husband in full-time college for ministry, his new position as worship leader (getting college credit), and my blogs (which have turned into a ministry)… well, I have to tell you that our family seems to be under constant attack.Life has NOT been easy, yet we are SO blessed.I know I haven’t been doing all I can to fight the good fight, and need to spend more time with my Lord.I’m in a couple of study groups (and starting one online in BOOK TALK - The Power of a Praying Woman NEW WORKBOOK), but I haven’t been as faithful to them as I should be, and I hope with the change of my schedule, I can do better with them as well.
My body and how I take care of it (or don’t).Whether it’s having a baby after thirty or being stretched out six times, my stomach is resembling a balloon that’s been blown up and then the air let out… six times!I can’t stand it any more and I need to get healthy (and if I loose some weight in the process… even better!!)
So there they are… my list of “resolutions” and goals to get the New Year off to a good start.There’s a lot there, but I know that the Lord doesn’t give me more than I can handle (with His help). He’s not a God of chaos, and that’s exactly how my life has been over the past few months.I know He has my schedule down to the second… I just need to go to Him and continue seeking His plan for my life.
SHARE and Tell:
What are your "New Year's Goals"? (Be sure to leave a comment directing us to your post on your blog so we can read it!)
• Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - SHARE and Tell: Laughter is the Best Medicine
I've been trying to get everything ready for The Clean Heart, Clean Home Challenge (the organizer is being "revamped" and proofed), along with starting a couple new blogs (things were getting crowded here), doing children's church for the months of July and August (with 3 yr. olds - 2nd graders... oh, and I'm doing the curriculum for that too), AND starting summer school as well. Okay... so are you tired yet?! All this is absolutely CRAZY to be doing with a month old baby who cries every night because of thrush... I've heard pregnancy damages brain cells, and evidently, I'm no exception...
So, with everything going a million miles an hour in my life... I was just thinking how nice it would be... in some "sick sort of way"... to hear what's going on in your lives. Now, I don't want to hear how smoothly things are going... NO... I want to hear about how your home is a disaster, the laundry is behind, the apple juice spilled on the newly washed floor after the two year old peed on it... you know... stories to make me feel better about my life!
SHARE and Tell:
What chaotic and crazy things have been going on in your life lately?
Thanks for sharing (and making me feel better)! In Him, Amy
and a woman seeking the Lord's Will (daily), a wife (striving to keep the romance alive), a "Smamma" (Step- mother) of one and a homeschooling mom of seven (I was never going to have children), who starts every day over (after messing SOME thing up the day before), knowing God's grace is overflowing (just like my laundry), and so thankful He's blessed me more than I'll ever deserve.
