Wondering what Mommy Homework is??? Each week you will have an “assignment” here to share in our comments here on this site. You will love this-both sharing AND enjoying answers by others. Some of them, I compile into an ebook (contributors can resell as a product of their own–be sure to submit your email and full name when you register so I can credit you appropriately!).
The result is AWESOME!
We get to know each other…we are encouraged in our journey…and we glean super ideas from other great moms!
Ready for this week’s MH? This is a good one!
Our topic this week is “What Have You Been Saying You Want to Do for Far Too Long???”
Your Assignment This Week…
Yep! I am getting in your business this week! 🙂
Ok, what have you been saying that you want to do or need to do? What have you been “talking” about for far too long? What is it that you know that you need to do, but you have just not been doing it?
A diet? Exercise?
Homeschooling? Nature studies…unit study…field trip?
A dream?
A date with your spouse?
A getaway with God?
What is your THING?
Share with us your thing? AND…how you plan to make it happen THIS WEEK?
Could it be that everything just might change if you took the plunge??? 🙂
Have fun! This should be a super assignment to read. I can’t wait! 
DIG IN!
I can’t wait!
Love ya!
Cindy
PS! Please remember to use your real name if you want credit for your Mommy Homework Credit. 
PPS! You CAN just share and not participate in Mommy Homework, BUT I would LOVE for you to get some goodies along the way!
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Deadline–Friday at midnight CST.
The one thing I have been wanting to do and have put off is to organize all my extra homeschooling materials and all the books in the house. I want a list of what I have with keywords that I can look up and know exactly what I have. Same thing with all the files I have saved on the computer. I have so many lapbooks and unit studies saved, but no list for reference. That is my summer goal, unless I get pregnant again and have morning sickness. Then my summer goal will be surviving and barely getting by.
The other thing I am working on, but somewhat putting off, is organizing my recipes. That will make my life so much easier. Plus I’m working on weekly menus complete with shopping lists.
Karen Gebes
I have been saying that I want to learn how to quilt and sew better.. I have a ton of fabric, a great sewing machine and all these books on quilting and I haven’t gotten past one lone mini quilt.
But the biggie is that I want to lose this weight and get healthy. My weight is keeping me from possibly having another baby. I need to get it in gear and just do it.
So how am I going to implement a plan this week? So lets tackle the easy one first, quilting and sewing. First I am going to unpack my boxes of fabric. I am going to start cutting out squares for some scrap quilts. I have set a goal to do 6 child sized scrap quilts for all of my nieces and nephews, and 5 bigger scrap quilts for my sisters, sister in law, mom and mom in law for Christmas. It may seem like a large task but after talking with several people- once my squares are cut I can have 1 done in a afternoon. This may be our last Christmas local with our families and I would like to do something special for everyone.
The more difficult one is losing weight. I have set up a meal plan for the week. It is easter week and my birthday. I have company here on my birthday, Saturday and Sunday- but just for lunch. So my goal is to have smaller but healthy breakfast and dinners for the week- with my biggest meal being at lunch. We are also planning to make healthy desserts- angel food cakes with strawberries and fat free whip cream- to avoid high calorie desserts. Another goal is drink more water each day.
So I think that I have made some good goals for the week. My days are always full but I am hoping that if I stay focused on the kids, schoolwork, unpacking, cutting out squares then maybe that will distract me from snacking between meals. One can hope. 🙂
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! My list is endless. Here are the top 10 or so…
1. Read my Bible daily
2. Organize my recipes
3. Get all my papers organized in binders
4. Get better organized with my homeschooling
5. Bake bread on a weekly basis
6. Make more things from scratch ie, pasta, bread, pie crusts, spaghetti sauce
7. Have my bills and taxes organized all during the year, not just at tax time
8. Enter my goodwill giving when it is given, not at tax time
9. Scrapbook
10. Make most of the gifts we give as gifts.
I look forward to seeing how many others have the long, neverending list….LOL
Thanks,
Shannon Depew
I can only pick one thing??? Hmmmmm……
It would have to be that I want to get intentional about the time I have at home with my son. I mean that I want to do certain things each day ~ not a packed schedule or anything just things like music time, movement time, reading, etc. I don’t want to get in the habit of letting the TV be my backup plan. I hate to be at the end of the day and not have done what I wanted to. So any suggestions would be helpful. My son will be 2 on Wednesday!
I keep thinking that I am going to clean up my computer. I have 100’s of free downloads (many from your Ultimate Women’s Expo and Ultimate Homeschool Expo), ebooks and audios and they are just saved onto my computer but not organized in any way. I am afraid when I actually need the downloads I won’t be able to find them or won’t even realize they are there. I don’t want to miss out on any of them so I plan to take 15 minutes a day to set up files and put them into categories so I can find them easily!
Amy Matthys
Cindy,
I seem to be one step ahead of you. This last week and this next week I am finally fulfilling some dreams I have had for a long time.
One of them has been to make my kitchen pretty. We have always rented and I have never felt I could leave my mark on my home in my style. Last week I finally went out and bought blue gingham in lengths that could frame the kitchen windows. I tied them in the top corner with yellow ribbon and stuck fake daisies in the ribbon. If I move again, which I am sure I will, I can just fold up the bits of gingham that are too long or short for the next rental and put up new lengths. I will end up with a stockpile but it means I will always be able to add my style to the normally plain lace curtains used in rentals. I have also added a blue table cloth to my kitchen table covered with a clear plastic cover with sunflowers on it. Add a few pots with candles or flowers in yellow, white or blue and my kitchen is pretty! Yay!
This next week I am finally taking the plunge and implementing the schedule I have worked on for many years. Each time I wanted to take the plunge, we would move or have a baby! This time I have a baby but I am sick and tired of my own excuses. I am going to do it. Time to live my life, not just plan my life!
Cindy, thank you very much for your encouragement with your posts this year and thank you for all the people who share a part of their struggles and successes in their comments. You have inspired me!
Best wishes
Jen in Oz
I have been wanting to start a Household Notebook. I need a place to corral all my papers!! I am pretty good at making lists but need to keep it all together as well as a place to keep schedules. I think I’m gonna make a trip to Wal-Mart and pick out a really neat looking notebook. Maybe that will spur me on!!
Robin
My thing is being really tired of ending my day feeling like, once again, I didn’t really take the time to connect with people – the loved ones in my home and the people God brings into my life for a moment. I hate the feeling of knowing, that, yes, I got my list of things to do done, but I missed the best part! The people! So, starting to day, that list is going to stop being the most important thing. I’m going to make the effort to listen and to slow down. Silly as it sounds, I’m putting up post-it notes throughout the house to remind me to do that – they’ll say, “It’s the people that matter!”
Great topic! 🙂
Kim
1. Start school on time- set alarm, get girls up and moving is the best I can do here
2. Move DD to her own room after I clean out said room- this is a more mid-long term project which DD can participate doing with me.
3. Write a preschool/Kindergarten curriculum- long term project which can be worked on little by little
4. have a garden- need to figure out how to motive DH to rent a tiller and till up a garden area.
5. Make own “chore packs” for the girls.- just do it! It’s been on my list of things to do for a month!
Drat! That’s too many “things” to do this week!
I’m on the same page as Karen about organizing/making a database of books/resources. Started sorting books several months ago but hoping to get this done within the month of April. I know what didn’t work for me a few years ago was trying to set up an excel database. I need something “smart” where it would automatically recognize the book that I’m typing in. Anyone had experience with this? Would love to hear feedback on programs/scanners to do this. I’ve heard you can purchase a upc scanner that will do much of the work! Ideally would not just have books/materials but music (cd/dvd/sheet music, too)! 🙂
My list of things I’d like to do is far longer than I’d want to admit! This week’s a big loss for me regarding time (’cause I’m heading up our church’s music ministry and have Thursday through Sunday booked!) But, I can start the week after…
1. do a real spring cleaning
2. get shelving (purchased and assembled) so I can get books off the floor and toys out of boxes
3. plan out the container garden for the upper deck this year
Now for long term goals ….. I really wanted to start writing either short stories or a novel. A few people I’ve met have done the intense writing in November. Won’t happen this year if certain things pan out, but I still hold out hope of getting to this someday.
Laura O’Neill
Step back and refocus – 4 months into the year it is time to see if what I had planned is working. To see how the time has gone and if we have been productive, where we need to get back on track and what we can do better, change or chuck out of needs be.
Specifically – I want to spend more time with the Lord, make Him the focus of my whole life. Not to fall into bed at night and regret that He wasn’t my all – in everything I do.
Well, one of the things I am doing is finishing up my AA degree this semester!! Yeah!!! Took me 30 years, but it’s done in a month!!!!
The other thing is we are planning a family trip across the US to learn more about this great country hands on! We are planning a year long sojourn in an RV. Our count down is 4 years from now. We are in the planning stages and are looking forward to this so much as a family, we can hardly wait!
Thirstyboots
Ok, so WHERE to begin! there’s SO many things. I think as homeschoolers, our lives tend to be so FULL, and so ambitious, that its easy to miss stuff, and have unrequited goals.
I’d say my number one has been reading aloud a LOT to the kiddos… we do a little but i tend to end up too busy, or they take so long on their basics, that we don’t get to it. NOT good.
How am I going to improve this this week? UGG> i have NO idea. It SHOULD be easier for me now, being on semi-bed rest, (preggo with twins) but it hasn’t been. I’ve been even more preoccupied with the top of my list. Honestly, I don’t think this is going to improve anytime soon.
Rebecca Kvenvolden
Get organized! I work at it a little at a time, but things get ahead of me so quickly. I started this weekend with the pantry and kitchen. Everyone tends to pile their “stuff” there because it is easy to get to. I need to have a place for things that are important enough to keep. If it is not, then it needs to go. (I save everything!)
I intend to start this week with the rest of my kitchen. I am in there a lot . I think it would save some time if things were better organized.
Next week, I am going through the children’s clothes. I need to get out their summer things and take out what is just too small. This usually takes a couple of days, but needs to be done.
Next is my closet. I know there are things in there that have not been worn in a long time.
Well, that is the plan. Usually, when I type it on this site, it makes me feel more accountable to do it!
Katrina Boatwright
Which room of the house should I start in….
1. In my room: paint 1 wall, reorganize my laundry (take a bunch to the church clothes closet), and get a cover made for our bed. (This week I can reorganize my laundry and sort for the clothes closet.)
2. the boys’ room: get their floor picked up and purge the toys. (with their help we can purge the toys and find the floor after school time this week.)
3. The kitchen: get a plan for planting the garden and the pantry ready for summer harvest… (got the pantry organized Friday and ready, now we need to figure out what to plant for our garden)
4. The classroom: finish up getting things in order… (got C a new desk (hand me down) and can finally get his stuff in drawers and put away this week.)
I could go on as my office is suffering greatly, the library area in the living room needs some serious TLC, and I would love to be able to have dinner at the dining room table again.
Well, it is hard to pick just one! But I think one of the biggest things I’ve been wanting to do but haven’t made time for is going through and reading some homemaking blogs and articles that I have marked and working on my homemaking skills.
Another thing I really want to do that kind of goes along with that is to learn to sew. My daughter is learning and really enjoying it. I bought a machine for my birthday last year but haven’t really used it much. i really want to make a place to set up my machine and get to work!
Thank you for this topic- for making me think of some of those “need to do things.”
When my son was a year old we took a trip to the Smoky Mountains and my husband bought me a lap dulcimer. I’ve always wanted to learn to play this and I bought some dvd lessons and books with gospel songs and Christmas carols. My son is six years old now and the dulcimer still sits in the corner. It’s partly guilt of taking an hour all for myself and partly the perfectionist in me knowing I won’t be good at it right away.
Hey Everyone!
This is Liz Lane. What a fun question!
One thing I just did that I have been wanting to do is call a babysitter and surprise my husband by telling him we have a date night!! 🙂 And I was thinking about it and thinking about when, which babysitter, etc and I thought, “Just call and see about TONIGHT!” Hooray! We had a fun night out to dinner.
Another thing I really want to do is some finishing touches around our home. We moved a year ago this next weekend. I have a few curtains left to change from ones left by the previous homeowner to ones I like, a chandalier to change and my family photo wall to finish. I hung all the frames to get a sense of how it is going to look and then just left them up until I can get my photos printed . The other day my 6 year old asked if we could put our own photos in the frames because he didn’t know all those people!!!! 🙂 I laughed so much and decided to get that done asap.
SO…
1. I am going to take some time tommorrow afternoon and download my family photos for printing and then finally framing on our family wall.
2. I am going to hang my cute denim curtains in the upstairs loft on Wed. afternoon while my boys are playing legos in the same room.
3. I am going to see if my hubby will switch out the chandalier for me on Monday. (He is a pastor and since this weekend is Easter, I’ll wait until Monday. 🙂 )
I am also purposing this week to read through the Easter narrative in the Bible. I started this morning with some beautiful poems, quotes, verses and short essays about Easter and tommorrow morning in my quiet time I am going to start the biblical account. Cindy and Everyone else, I hope you have a blessed week and a beautiful Easter–He is Risen!
Liz Lane
All of the re-arranging in our house. I am waiting on a storage area to be finished in our garage, then watch out! We have lived here for 9+ years and not rearranged a thing–except the living room once. I am so ready to move some things to a location where they will be easy to find, not in the way and look nice. Then when it is safe to walk through my house, I want to practice hospitality. You know actually invite people over without having a weeklong clean-up/panic beforehand. I am going to check with DH to see what I can do to help with finishing ‘his’ room so I can get started with the rest!
Blessings!
Hillary in Indiana
We bought our home in 1985 and before we moved in I told my husband I
wanted to buy a china hutch for one particular wall. This house needed more
cabinet space was a good excuse, right? We finally started looking seriously
for one last year…but I wasn’t willing to pay the price for a new one. The used
ones were the wrong color, too small, etc. Just last week my husband found
a very large one that really matches our cabinets well for $200 dollars!!! A
dream fulfilled after 24 years! Isn’t God good to give us the unimportant desires
of our heart.
An unfulfilled dream I have is making a quilt/comforter for my king size bed…it
seems like such a huge project and I just don’t have the energy to tackle it.
I guess the first thing I need to do is plan how much material it will take and
go buy it…or find someone willing to make it for me for not too much pay. I
think I will try to find someone to make it this week. Thanks for motivating me!
Carolyn Griggs
So funny how there are so many people on here with my same ideas…
Well first off I’d like to take my kids to Florida to see the ocean and Disney but with the economy the way it is who knows when that will be?
Here are the areas that God has been working on in me on…
1. Family Schedule (done and somewhat following it)
2. Household Managment Binder (in the works)
3. Menu Planning (in the works)
4. Index Card System for Household Cleaning Tasks (in the works)
5. Bulk Cooking (hopefully soon)
6. Bread baking (hopefully soon)
Oh I forgot to mention De-cluttering the house, which is almost done and boy do I feel better!!!! If youhaven’t thought about this before or are a pack-rat like me it will TOTALLY free you up, just not having clutter sitting around everywhere makes me feel so much better, like there aren’t undone tasks everywhere I sit, it is clean!
Lori Duncan
wow…there is so much I keep saying I’m going to do. I am behind on my kids portfolios. I think I will take 15-30 minutes each night this week and work on those. I could probably finish this week if I would just set aside 30 mins. a day.
My husband and I also keep saying “we need to make a budget”. It seems to always get pushed aside. We are going camping this weekend and I think I will drag along some budgeting information so that while we are lounging around relaxing we can begin that process. Maybe we’ll both be in a calm frame of mind.
I also have to move in 4-6 weeks. I keep putting off packing. I will start TODAY by doing atleast two boxes…that is 14 boxes in one week…that should be a good start!!
There are three things that I’ve been wanting to get done for a while:
1. Spend more time in Bible study. I plan to make sure that happens before anything else happens in the day. I am also going to be helping my son learn how to study the Bible, which will be good for both of us.
2. Lose weight. I don’t think you can still blame the “baby” when he’s six – can you? I have been picking away at this and have lost 5 pounds but I really need to get serious so I can feel better about myself. It appears that wishing doesn’t drop pounds. I need to make exercise a priority rather than an option for my leftover time.
3. Finish the kids’ bedrooms so they are warm, inviting, and personalized. I purchased paint last week and started with the primer tonight. I should have the boys’ room done by the end of the week. The plan is to finish the girls’ room next week.
Writing this down is a great idea. Seeing it in black and white is a wonderful motivator.
Andrea Gunter
I have been thinking about this Mommy Homework for a few days. My first answer was just a flood of all the things that I need to do, things that never seem to get done, things that I say I will get to tomorrow. . .you know all that stuff.
I decided that the big thing I needed right now was to be a little more organized (ok, I really need to be A LOT more organized, but I will take it in small steps). I have a Home Management Binder / Control Journal already. I know that it doesn’t take that long to do each day’s cleaning tasks. And while writing out lesson plans for the kids I realized WHY it is that I don’t just do it. I assign a light amount of daily work each day, and my kids know when they are done they can go play. For myself, what is written down is a light amount, but when I get that done I just keep piling on more. So I decided that I am going to just do the daily tasks that are written in my notebook each day. If I don’t get them all done, I have a catch up day.
I have been working on this the last couple of days. I am finding myself more relaxed, having more fun with the kids, and enjoying working on a fun sewing project I had been putting off for awhile.
Annie
There are a few things I have been putting off. The first is starting an exercise regimen. I have not lost the weight I gained since having my son who recently turned one. I am desiring not only to loose a few pounds, but to live a healthier lifestyle and to set an example for my children. I also feel exercising daily will help me to build self-discipline in my life in all areas.
The second thing I have been putting off is writing. I love writing and have always wanted to write a book for fun, but I’ve put it off for the last few years while I’ve been busy raising my kids. I’m starting to realize that its not selfish to reach after my dreams, but spending a little bit of time towards this goal can teach myself and my children the value of perseverance, hard work, and living your passions and dreams.
Julia Reffner
There are so many things…
The project I (we) are working on right now is to put a dewey decimal label on all our books. I have found myself buying repeats and I don’t want to waste any more money on buying books I have but have forgotten!!
I also have some other goals which (due to a family death, court battle and more)I am not going to stress over right now!! Among them:
1. Simplify mostly using the book: 30 Days to a Simpler Life
2. Exercise every day for at least 10 minutes (better than nothin’)
3. Get the kiddos back on track in chores and our schedule which has somewhat fallen apart the past 2 months.
4. Finish organizing my files (started a bit more than the 2 months ago)
Elizabeth Bowen
PS Please keep our family in your prayers – Let the truth prevail in court.
Hi Everyone!!
I have the never ending list also.
I feel as if we just kind of “skate” through the day without really accomplishing anythiing. I would like to implement more of a schedule, and stick to it!
I have a ton of books (I actually went through them yesterday!) and I want to sit and read! Also, I would like to start exercising. YIKES!! I have a really good yearly budget that I need to organize (thanks to my sister!) and I want to get my homeschool really going. I love Charlotte Mason! I just need to get my thoughts on paper and follow through. I’m planning on pulling it all together over the summer months so next year is more productive.
Katy Horn
Mine are all health related (I have neglected myself for too long and the weight has crept up because of it!)
1. EXERCISE – I mean really exercise not just going fromt eh couch to the fridge and back again! I am going to walk or ride my bike for two miles EVERYDAY! Plus add in some stretching and maybe some yoga moves too. (need to find my yoga tapes)
2. Eat healthier – stop eating out! We were really bad this last weekend because I was sick with tonsilitis and really didn’t feel well dh was in charge of meals (He brought in takeout for lunch and dinner everyday) because he really did not have time to cook (And he really can only cook a couple of things)
3. Eat more fruits and veggies – this will be easier when my garden is producing but I can not wait until then I have to break down and go to the green grocer and get some good organic veggies and fruits and actually EAT them!
4. Take time to rest – I am constantly DOING something and rarely take time to jsut sit and watch the kids play or even join in with them.
5. Eat breakfast everyday. I am really bad about eating breakfast and usually just down some coffee and get going with the day. Not Good and my dr yelled at me about it last time I was in there. Not eating breakfast does really bad things to your body which I did not know!
6. Cut down/cut the coffee habit (I was drinking 4 cups a day way too much for me it was affecting my heart rate and blood pressure) so I am cutting way back. One cup starting today with hopes of cutting it to 0 soon. Today I really drank tea so I am watching to see if that helps. Green Tea is so much better for you anyway and I can drink that with no sugar or anythign in it!
7. Cut way back on sweets and junk food
8. stress reduction – this will get better once my mom and my grandma get situated (mom broke up with her significant other in October and everything has been in limbo since then and driving me batty) hopefully within the next two weeks everything will be settled. I really need to stop taking on everyone else’s problems. My mom is really bad about wanting to take care of her problems for her. I think doing my yoga and deep breathing exercises will help alot in that (that and my mom moving 600 miles away 🙂 Also reading my Bible will help alot with this one!
9. Make time for me with God alone.
Mary Damask
I’ve been saying that I want to get my son to brush his teeth on his own. We finally did it! PTL! That would be three down, one to go … lol
Things I really need to do…
1 – Get more diligent about reading my bible on a daily basis. I do read it, don’t get me wrong, but I have not really got into deep reading in a while.
2 – I would like to set up a cleaning routine and actually follow it.
3 – That being said, I also would like to have a better school schedule.
4 – I really need to clean out my school room. It winds up being a catch all for “I don’t know where to put this.”
5 – De-clutter and clean rest of house.
6 – I want to do more Charlotte Mason type learning – more read alouds, more nature study, more art appreciations, etc.
7 – I want to stay home more so I can do the above things.
8 – I want to do something special for hubby.
Annmarie Rozelle
Hi Ladies,
I think there are several things I have been meaning to do for a very long time and just haven’t done them. The main thing I think is to declutter and organize my home for simpler living. I know this will help in many ways and I just need to start, but when I get time, it seems I am too tired to even work on it for 15 minutes. I don’t think I was this tired during the last pregnancy, but I sure am this time.
I would also love to start freezer/bulk cooking, making my own bread, and getting rid of some of the stuff we have that we don’t need. I guess I also really need to get rid of a few of the books we have that we don’t have room for. Maybe my nesting instinct will kick in and I will be able to get some of these done. My dear husband also fixed up the loft in our garage as craft space and we are still unpacking boxes we have had for three years since we moved here.
Slowly some of these things are getting done and Easter dresses should be completed by tomorrow.
I am now going to pray about what should be done first as I know without that nothing will get done.
Walking in His Grace,
Jeniver Boyer
One of the top things that I have wanted to get done for some time now was to sew my daughter and I alike outfits for Easter. I have finally almost accomplished that this week. I have to put the hem into her dress and then they are finished.
Another goal for me is to have all the paper work for our oldest son completely done ASAP so that he can move into his new home and out of the group home and finally start his new life. I also have a goal to get all the paper work done for our youngest son to help him be able to learn better and more with all of his handicaps.l
My list could go on and on but I’m glad that we only have to take things one at a time.
Orilla Crider
One of the main things I keep saying I’m going to do is get more streamlined with our school and housework to free up some writing time in the afternoon. I also need to stay home more to get things done. We need to simplify!
I also keep saying I’m going to do more reading aloud to my two ‘little’ boys like I did with my older children. I used to be so diligent with this, but now it seems as though my time is more focused on helping with my older children’s schoolwork. But I am determined to set aside some time each day just to focus on reading aloud to my ‘littles’ more. I do read to them at night before bed, but I want to be more purposeful during the day!
And last of all, I keep saying I’m going to reorganize all my recipes and create binders to house all my favorites as well as the recipes I find and print off the internet. I have STACKS of printed recipes that need my attention!
Blessings,
Amy O’Quinn
Lots and lots of goals here! I picked just a few!
1. Spend time daily in the word.
2. Add more structure to our school
3. Spend more time making memories with my kids!
4. Read living books daily!
5. Eat better and get more exercise.
6. Start my own blog.
7. Go to bed earlier.
8. Train my children to help around the house more.
9. Daily find ways to be a good helpmeet to my husband.
10. Find ways to minister to those who are a part of my everyday life.
Those are my really big goals. Many of them are so dependent on the others. If I am getting enough sleep, exercise, and eating well then it is much easier to follow through with routines and to make memories because I am not so worn down.
It goes without saying, daily time with Jesus is so necessary, if I start my day with Him, things just all seem to stay in place and get done.
I just sometimes get so busy that I let things go and they seem to spiral down.
Big goal for this week is daily quiet times!
I have been putting off living MY life for far too long…………..
I took a look at all the Christian books I have read (and those sitting waiting to be read) and realised that I was so wrapped up in looking at the relationships others were having with Christ that I was forgetting to have mine.
Mine is like no other – He created me to have that relationship with him and no-one else can do it! If I don’t have that relationship with Him he will miss out on it and so will I.
When I first became a Christian everything was so simple – First I believed and it gave me joy – then I started to talk to God and he started to talk to me – simple.
Then I started to listen to other people. Some of what I listened to was good, very good. Most of what I listened to was not good at all.
Apparently I was naïve because God does not speak to people these days (must have been hearing things) and His word could not be taken literally (funny I thought He was the TRUTH, the Way and the Life). I was also childish because I did not always sing and worship like everyone else.
I was left feeling like I constantly running to keep up. After all I did not get saved until 2 days before my 38th birthday and I had not been brought up in “the church”.
I lost much of my joy and was left striving and feeling like a second class Christian. I wanted to be holy like those around me – big mistake!!!!!!!!!!!
I needed to take my focus off other believers and get it back on Jesus! I still want to be Holy but Holy like my Father is Holy! So today this very minute I am going back to the simple life. No more striving just resting in Jesus.
I wont even have to strive to be holy any more because as I talk to Him and listen for His voice, spending in His presence His holiness will rub off on me.
Grab your chance with both hands – Live YOUR own life – it’s the one He created for you and the one he created you to live.
Love and Blessings
Angela Marchington
I am not a young mom :0) and am really quite organized, I go through my list of To Do’s on a regular basis and those things that never seem to make it to a high enough priority to actually get to, get dropped off the list.
I have many want to’s – and many, many times getting to those things just involves propelling myself forward and “DOING” it. Not waiting until it can be done “right”, “perfectly”, “like it’s supposed to be done” (whatever that means), and so forth. Just starting. It has taken me years and years to learn this
One of my biggies on the list of things I hadn’t yet gotten to – Nature Study with my children. So this year, I got sketch books for each of my children – a couple field guides cheap off amazon and some colored pencils. I store it all in a backpack and grap it when we go to the beach. My goal is to get to the beach once a week with the kiddies for nature study. I just load them up and we go – usually for about an hour. I am sure this will be longer in the heat of summer when the ocean warms up some. If we don’t get to the ocean, we just go out in the back yard or for a walk around the neighborhood. One way or another, we manage to pay attention to God’s beautiful creation one day a week.
For me, this is good. We are doing nature study this year. Building the habit. My children notice nature and pay attention. This was what I wanted for them.
In the same vein – we have planted a very small containter garden. This is my first year with a garden. I looked up what grew well here (tomotoes and lettus) and that is what we chose to do. It is not perfect, or beautiful – but it is started.
We also have 2 bird feeders on the patio. We watch the birds daily come to eat.
So, we have started, now we have something to build on.
Trish Bevill
Declutter…….again……It seems like we just did this, but somehow my home seemed to explode while Dana and I were at the hospital during Delaney’s birth! So, now with company coming at the end of the month, this job must be at the top of my list. It will be challenging to work it in amid the two month old nursing baby schedule, especially as Dana has “stolen” my help by offering them rides on the four wheeler if they help HIM out in the yard! 🙂
So, I am pulling books and preparing for our state used curriculum sale, reorganizing bookshelves and cleaning those. We are cleaning a room at a time since one of my daughters lost a jade bracelet her brother brought her back from his trip to Hong Kong…..
I have also been putting off getting onto Skype way too long. We have a dear, dear friend who is losing his battle to brain cancer and he loves his conversations with people on Skype. He feels like he has had a visit in their living room. I have really been putting this off. We saw him when they visited us in the hospital to see Delaney, and he had greatly deteriorated then. He has gone even further downhill now, so I’m not sure I want to see him. But, this is not about me. It is about him, so we are getting the headset, microphone and webcam we need today…..
Vicki
The one thing I can think of to list is to make a family cookbook. We have so many cookbooks that we only use 1 or 2 recipes out of that we “plan” on donating as soon as we write down the recipe we use. I could free up so much cabinet space and bless someone with the cookbooks we never use if I just made our family book alreay!