NO! Not me! Good grief! Our souls; our hearts! That is a fear that can come from sharing about your life and blogging; especially when you know that friends of your friends are starting to read your blog. Wow!
Anyway, "On with it, man!" I haven't blogged for a few weeks and so I thought I'd sit down this evening and write a few lines about what is going on.
First, (here comes the "bare" part) Melissa and I have enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. (Click the link if you've been in a cave and don't know who Dave or what FPU is.) Anyway, what we're finally admitting to ourselves is that basically, we don't know how to save money or manage what what we have, for that matter. We have never been disciplined in that practice. But, we're making steps toward change. Fortunately for us, God has blessed us with incredible patience and love toward each other and we are both on the same page, admitting that we both have faults. It's been very good.
Secondly, (here comes the "exposed" part) primarily because of our lack of discipline in finances, but also due to other circumstances we are in a bad spot. We have 4 creditors that want money and they want it now! They call and we ignore the phone. We've all gotten quite good at it, sad to say. If we were in our early 20's and could know what we know now, oh my goodness! We would definitely become millionaires. No foolin'! Even so, if we were out of debt and know what we know now, we could still become millionaires, eventually. But, we're not out of debt. And right now, I don't know how we ever will be, with our current circumstances. So...
Thirdly, (finally, the uncovering) we are trying to change our circumstances. We are trying to create additional "streams of income"*. For a couple of years now, Melissa has been giving piano lessons to mostly homeschoolers in our area. Even when we moved last fall, I believe they all stayed with her and now she's even added a few more. It is our prayer that she be able to add enough students so that she can quit her part-time job at Dillard's. Please join us in that prayer.
Also, I have had the dream of having my own Custom Woodworks shop. I have built quite a bit of the furniture that is in our house and have put it on my website. Check it out if you want. I need to get some better pics of our king-sized bed on there. The ones I used were taken for the purpose of showing the paint job Melissa did in our room. I think my next step toward making this dream a reality is to get a brochure and some biz cards printed up. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas on how we can get these two businesses to really take off, please comment or email us.
Another dream Melissa has had is to open her own pie shop. Now, if any of you have ever tasted one of her pies, (or seen my gut the past few years) you know this woman can cook! I mean it. She has got some great recipes for pie and cinnamon rolls that will knock your socks off and make you loosen your belt! Thing about this dream is we can't do it in our own home due to food regulations. This brings along another dream we have...
Hey! Joseph was a man of God and a dreamer, so there!
We want to build our own Strawbale Estate. I say estate because it's not just a house. We want a ranch, some land. We want to have a horse, a cow or two, maybe some chickens. We want to go back to simple living in today's technological world! By that I mean we don't want to be pioneers and do without every modern convenience. We're glad we live in today's world, but want to do it more simple. To experience life to the full, as we see it!
Oh my! This is quickly becoming a book and didn't want to do that. I'm starting to just spew forth all of my heart and ideas. Time to reign it in for those of you who are still actually reading this.
Bottom line? Ok I'll sum it up. Please pray for us. We are in debt over our heads and want OUT! We want to live well, give well and save well! We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Kids!
Now THIS is what I call "Enjoying Childhood"! The poor dog goes along with anything the kids can come up with. I love seeing them smile!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
TGIF?!?
Well, yesterday was quite an adventure. I got the kids off to school and thought, "Ok, just tackle the project you've been wanting to do for weeks now...paint the master bathroom!" I figured, maybe when I paint it that wonderful "Wooden Swing" color, it will no longer be freezing when I walk in, because, after all, a warm color is bound to boost the temperature of the room, right? My brain is so weird. And so, I began my day-long venture, and was moving right along when I get this phone call from the animal clinic...for the third time in a month! "Um, yes, I have a man on the other line who claims to have your dog." UGH!!!!!! I run downstairs and into the backyard, where I had JUST let Cookie out to go potty and, sure enough, the crazy dog had climbed halfway up the gate, PUSHED the fencing out just enough to squeeze through this tiny hole, and ran off to chase the garbage truck. I know this is true because the same thing happened last garbage day!! Fortunately, a kind gentleman saw Cookie going from house to house and brought him right to my house after I talked to him.
Ok, back to painting...with Cookie INSIDE. I realized that I needed to go pick up the kids from school, so I tucked everything away, got changed into decent clothes, and drove off. However, as I got about half a mile away from the house and made a left-hand turn, my rear tire nicked the median (thus proving why I don't usually try to turn into the proper lane!), and I blew the sidewall. I hobbled over to the side of the road up ahead, out of traffic and thought, "This is just great! Jarrod's in Santa Fe at work, he's staying the night at my parents' house anyway; my friend with whom I carpool was not home, and they had after-school plans, so I didn't want to bother her; my sister was not at home..." So I called Jarrod to let him know. Then I got ahold of my friend's husband and they were all at the school eating lunch with their kids, so they said they would pile everyone in and bring them home. Whew.
So, as I sat wondering what to do, I began to get mad....very mad. There were at least 20-30 cars that passed. Did anyone even see me?? Jarrod suggested that I just walk home and wait for the kids. So, as I am getting out, hazard lights flashing, obviously a damsel in distress, a police car PASSES RIGHT BY!!! UGH!!!!!!!! I stomped off toward home, and by the time I made it to my street I was in tears. I fell on the couch and just bawled!
I did manage to gather myself together before the kids got home, and my friend's husband and brother-in-law where so kind to go change the tire and bring the van home. After that, I just had to take a deep breath and remind myself that this is the stuff life is made of.
The night ended well, and the kids and I went to the Dollar movie and saw "Alvin and the Chipmunks". It was good to laugh.
Ok, back to painting...with Cookie INSIDE. I realized that I needed to go pick up the kids from school, so I tucked everything away, got changed into decent clothes, and drove off. However, as I got about half a mile away from the house and made a left-hand turn, my rear tire nicked the median (thus proving why I don't usually try to turn into the proper lane!), and I blew the sidewall. I hobbled over to the side of the road up ahead, out of traffic and thought, "This is just great! Jarrod's in Santa Fe at work, he's staying the night at my parents' house anyway; my friend with whom I carpool was not home, and they had after-school plans, so I didn't want to bother her; my sister was not at home..." So I called Jarrod to let him know. Then I got ahold of my friend's husband and they were all at the school eating lunch with their kids, so they said they would pile everyone in and bring them home. Whew.
So, as I sat wondering what to do, I began to get mad....very mad. There were at least 20-30 cars that passed. Did anyone even see me?? Jarrod suggested that I just walk home and wait for the kids. So, as I am getting out, hazard lights flashing, obviously a damsel in distress, a police car PASSES RIGHT BY!!! UGH!!!!!!!! I stomped off toward home, and by the time I made it to my street I was in tears. I fell on the couch and just bawled!
I did manage to gather myself together before the kids got home, and my friend's husband and brother-in-law where so kind to go change the tire and bring the van home. After that, I just had to take a deep breath and remind myself that this is the stuff life is made of.
The night ended well, and the kids and I went to the Dollar movie and saw "Alvin and the Chipmunks". It was good to laugh.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Design on a Dime...or a penny
I decided to take a little "me" time this morning and enjoy GMA until 8:00. It was ok, but then they started doing a blurb about John Lennon, and I could care less about his story, so I came to the trusty old computer to see what's happening in cyberworld.
Yesterday I began sewing the kitchen curtains. I think I did a good job; only I got the curtain rods out of the bag and realized I bought the wrong kind, so now I have to go BACK to the store and purchase another set. Also, when I got one curtain up it looked so blah...way too plain. So now I need to be creative as to what to do to "spice it up" without spending a lot of money. Maybe a rich tieback that will accent the fabric, a valance? We'll see. And, I miscalculated the measurements so it's not as full as it should be. However, I got this fabric on clearance, so chances of them having more are slim. Let's see...what can one do with two matching curtains that don't really work??
Today I am going to begin on the curtains for the living room. I got this GREAT, INCREDIBLE deal on these gorgeous, huge tablecloths from Dillards last week. I will transform them into something fabulous for our living room. We have these vertical blinds, which I would burn in a heartbeat, only we don't own this home. So I will attempt to disguise them. After that, it's on to the master bedroom curtains. Again, a fabulous deal at Dillard's, only these are $120 SHEETS that I got for $15!!!!!!!! Gotta love the Dillard's discount. I can't quit that job until my home is sufficiently decorated!!
Well, speaking of decorating, I need to go "decorate" my face and get on with my day.
OH!! By the way, I found a solution for my shower doors! "Bar Keeper's Friend" and a blue "Scotch Brand" sponge!! It took a lot of elbow grease, but they are looking soooo much better!! Thanks for all of the advice!
Yesterday I began sewing the kitchen curtains. I think I did a good job; only I got the curtain rods out of the bag and realized I bought the wrong kind, so now I have to go BACK to the store and purchase another set. Also, when I got one curtain up it looked so blah...way too plain. So now I need to be creative as to what to do to "spice it up" without spending a lot of money. Maybe a rich tieback that will accent the fabric, a valance? We'll see. And, I miscalculated the measurements so it's not as full as it should be. However, I got this fabric on clearance, so chances of them having more are slim. Let's see...what can one do with two matching curtains that don't really work??
Today I am going to begin on the curtains for the living room. I got this GREAT, INCREDIBLE deal on these gorgeous, huge tablecloths from Dillards last week. I will transform them into something fabulous for our living room. We have these vertical blinds, which I would burn in a heartbeat, only we don't own this home. So I will attempt to disguise them. After that, it's on to the master bedroom curtains. Again, a fabulous deal at Dillard's, only these are $120 SHEETS that I got for $15!!!!!!!! Gotta love the Dillard's discount. I can't quit that job until my home is sufficiently decorated!!
Well, speaking of decorating, I need to go "decorate" my face and get on with my day.
OH!! By the way, I found a solution for my shower doors! "Bar Keeper's Friend" and a blue "Scotch Brand" sponge!! It took a lot of elbow grease, but they are looking soooo much better!! Thanks for all of the advice!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
What's for breakfast?!?!
You know the feeling, moms, when you are sitting quietly sipping your coffee, and the thought hits you, "Oh my gosh, the kids are going to be up any minute! I'm almost out of milk, I have two slices of bread (plus the heels- who eats those?), not enough eggs to satisfy three hungry kids before school...WHAT WILL I FEED THEM??" My heart begins to race, my head spins, then the heavens open and I hear a choir of angels singing, "AHHHHHHHHHH". Then it hits me...OATMEAL!!!! That requires NO eggs, very little milk, and a ton of brown sugar (which I DO have!) I arise from my comfy spot on the couch, and once again realize, I can do this thing called "Being a good mom" after all!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Hard Water Woes
Since I haven't received any help from my FaceBook family, I thought I would pose my question here.
Does ANYONE have a solution (that actually works) for removing the nasty hard water deposits on my glass shower walls?!?!? 
I've tried everything just shy of acid and a sledge hammer, and it is STILL refusing to leave! Just imagine what that water is doing to my insides when I try to get my 8 glasses in per day. Never mind, don't try to imagine that. I will take suggestions from housewives, men who clean showers, Hints from Heloise....I'm desperate!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Things That Inspire Me
Ok, there are two things that have inspired me this week. Number 1: a friends' blog about her "Laundry Stratagies" and Number 2: another friends' blog about weight loss.
Number 1: The Laundry Blues seem to constantly overtake me, unless I've just finished the 8-10 loads of laundry and have ONE DAY where everybody actually has clean everything, and the laundry room is empty. However, when I get up the next morning, I am saddened to find that my family actually WORE the clothes I just washed,(the nerve) which means that I will have to wash it all again very soon.
And so, my friend, Trish, who happens to have FIVE children and is extremely organized and efficient, was kind enough to blog about how she keeps up with it all. Now, granted, she has a laundry room to die for (complete with the cutest wallpaper!!), but Jarrod and I sat down on Saturday and discussed how we can implement her stratagies so that I do not throw MYSELF in the washer and call it quits! I'll let you know how it turns out...might be a few months, as I need to completely empty my existing laundry room, and start from scratch. I don't know...do you think our landlords would notice if we cut a big hole in our bathroom floor and installed a laundry shute? No, no, no... my boys would soon be putting themselves down the shute.
Ok, number two...weight loss. As so many of us do, we hit January 1st (or 10th) and decided enough is enough! No more fatties in this house! Well, this was my year! Jarrod's 20th HS Reunion is coming up in May, and we both made an oath that we cannot show up looking like "THIS". Now, so far I've lost 4 pounds!! I try to weigh every morning (before I eat); however, there are mornings I'm afraid to step on, for fear of the number I might see. I've been exercising about 3 days a week...until two weeks ago. Somehow I find more pressing things to get done before my piano lessons start for the day, or I have to run errands, etc. So, I just need the encouragement and support of anyone out there who happens to read this blog! I really want to live healthier! Now, that being said, I will tell you right off that I refuse to "diet". Why? Because #1-I love food...anything that involves sugar, butter, bread, or beef. #2-When I say, "No more of ___" I am scarfing it down by the end of the day. #3-I firmly believe that God put food on this earth to enjoy! So my solution? I don't have to eat the whole dozen donnuts to be satisfied; one will do. I don't need 2 Tbsp. of butter to eat one roll; eat TWO rolls...just kidding! I don't have to eat a whole loaf of my homemade bread! One nice sized slice will suffice! And as far as beef? When I savor each bite of steak (which is a rare occasion anyway), I find that a 6-8oz cut is plenty!! All of that to say, I need to get off my backside and get on my exercise machine that I swore never to hang clothes on!! Please pray for me, as I've never had to struggle with my weight until the third kid came along (thanks a lot Caleb - hee hee). My focus is HEALTH and caring for God's temple, not having a Skinny Model Bod. Thanks for listening...I needed that!
Number 1: The Laundry Blues seem to constantly overtake me, unless I've just finished the 8-10 loads of laundry and have ONE DAY where everybody actually has clean everything, and the laundry room is empty. However, when I get up the next morning, I am saddened to find that my family actually WORE the clothes I just washed,(the nerve) which means that I will have to wash it all again very soon.
And so, my friend, Trish, who happens to have FIVE children and is extremely organized and efficient, was kind enough to blog about how she keeps up with it all. Now, granted, she has a laundry room to die for (complete with the cutest wallpaper!!), but Jarrod and I sat down on Saturday and discussed how we can implement her stratagies so that I do not throw MYSELF in the washer and call it quits! I'll let you know how it turns out...might be a few months, as I need to completely empty my existing laundry room, and start from scratch. I don't know...do you think our landlords would notice if we cut a big hole in our bathroom floor and installed a laundry shute? No, no, no... my boys would soon be putting themselves down the shute.
Ok, number two...weight loss. As so many of us do, we hit January 1st (or 10th) and decided enough is enough! No more fatties in this house! Well, this was my year! Jarrod's 20th HS Reunion is coming up in May, and we both made an oath that we cannot show up looking like "THIS". Now, so far I've lost 4 pounds!! I try to weigh every morning (before I eat); however, there are mornings I'm afraid to step on, for fear of the number I might see. I've been exercising about 3 days a week...until two weeks ago. Somehow I find more pressing things to get done before my piano lessons start for the day, or I have to run errands, etc. So, I just need the encouragement and support of anyone out there who happens to read this blog! I really want to live healthier! Now, that being said, I will tell you right off that I refuse to "diet". Why? Because #1-I love food...anything that involves sugar, butter, bread, or beef. #2-When I say, "No more of ___" I am scarfing it down by the end of the day. #3-I firmly believe that God put food on this earth to enjoy! So my solution? I don't have to eat the whole dozen donnuts to be satisfied; one will do. I don't need 2 Tbsp. of butter to eat one roll; eat TWO rolls...just kidding! I don't have to eat a whole loaf of my homemade bread! One nice sized slice will suffice! And as far as beef? When I savor each bite of steak (which is a rare occasion anyway), I find that a 6-8oz cut is plenty!! All of that to say, I need to get off my backside and get on my exercise machine that I swore never to hang clothes on!! Please pray for me, as I've never had to struggle with my weight until the third kid came along (thanks a lot Caleb - hee hee). My focus is HEALTH and caring for God's temple, not having a Skinny Model Bod. Thanks for listening...I needed that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
