What a Week {and it's only Wednesday}

It has been a long time since my last post, but this week has been so eventful that it would be a crime not to write about it!

We started the week like any other - - Sunday was sunny and we had some family fun shopping at Target with money that we don't have.  You know how a tri to Target goes... you go in for chap stick and end up paying $200 at the register for the many things that you never knew you needed!  When we walked in, we headed straight for the carts that can hold three kids.  I'm so glad they have those.  Target is a sanctuary for me.  If I couldn't strap my kids down in my sacred place and push them wherever I waned them to go, I can't imagine where else I would go to get a little peace (and buy a pretty pink handbag at the same time!).  Hubby was with us that day, and of course the Love Bug asked if he could walk.  Are you sitting down, ladies?  My wonderful husband almost let our 2-year-old walk!  Don't worry - - I caught the child before the words were uttered and got him pinned between the plastic seat and the straps.  It was a close one, though!

On Monday hubby's alarm didn't go off, so he had to take the car.  The Peanut cried all morning (no, I'm not exaggerating).  Hubby texted to see how my day was going, and this is the picture I sent him:

Crying and crying and crying and finally fell asleep while I carried him around trying to get some things done!  The little stinker.

When the babysitter got to the house, I caught a ride with a friend in to work.  What a blessing that car ride was!  If you ever need encouragement, just let your husband take your car for the day and ask a friend to pick you up.  I got some much-needed time with her because of a faulty alarm clock, and I am so grateful for that time!  When I got home, I tossed the kids in their cribs for nap time and thought I could get some work done.  Little did I know, I would get a total of 10 minutes to myself that day.  The Love Bug got his leg stuck in his crib.  I wish I had taken pictures, but he was so upset I couldn't really do anything other than cry with him.  He got it caught all the way up above his knee, and he was really jammed in there.  I did my best to get it out myself, but I just couldn't.  Finally, I called 9-1-1 for the second time in my life.  They send 3 firefighters and an ambulance.  It took all three of them to get his leg out of the crib, but to my surprise they didn't have to cut the bars at all!




The next day was a tiny bit worse in terms of baby crying... but we definitely had a better nap time!

It took me forever to get this little man to sleep because he was teething so bad yesterday.  He slept for a little less than an hour, but it was enough time for me to eat my lunch!  I also was able to talk with my accountability partner and dear friend, which was absolutely wonderful!  If you don't have an accountability partner, you need one!

This morning was the icing on the cake that has been my week... and it's only Wednesday!  I hope there aren't sprinkles or fancy lettering in store for us in the next few days...

The boys actually let me sleep until 7:15 this morning!  I jumped out of bed ready to seize the day as any mother of two boys under 3 would - - slowly and groggily.  I decided to get the Love Bug up first {dun dun duuuuun} and then feed the Peanut.  Well, while I was changing a dirty diaper before 8am, my toddler was downstairs chug-alugging the brand new bottle of Infant's Advil!

I'm so grateful for our pediatrician.  She gave me the number for Poison Control (which I wrote down incorrectly and reached "New York's Hottest Talk Line") and reassured me that he would probably be fine because he's... well, a bigger kid.  Once I found the correct number for Poison Control, the nicest lady calmly told me that my oldest baby would have a belly ache and that's probably about it.

What a week!  I'm hoping for some sort of normalcy to rest upon my family within the next few days.

Riches amidst the Rags:
- Wonderful car ride with a friend
- Great first responders who kept me and my Love Bug calm and safe during a state of panic
- Sitting in a Fire Truck (for fun - - not out of necessity!)
- Wonderful chat with another friend
- Infant's Advil to help a teething baby
- Maggie from Poison Control when that Advil was downed by my 2-year-old
- A great pediatrician
- Great friends who have been praying for us this week
- A good night's sleep for all of us last night
- Popcorn and conversation with hubby last night
- Target

Our Budgeting System

 

Our budgeting system really works for our family.  We learned what we learned from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class.  That was the best investment we have EVER made!  I highly recommend that everyone take this class.

 



 

The first step in coming up with a budget is to create a monthly cash flow plan.  You can find a template for this on Dave Ramsey's site.  The idea is that you plan out where every penny of your money goes each month - - it's called a zero-based budget.  When you get to the end of the budget for the month, you should have $0 left over.  That's okay, because you budget in savings.

Figure out what all of your bills for the month total to, using Dave Ramsey's form.  This gives you a great base for your budget.

We use the Allocated Spending Plan each week to move our money around between accounts.  This form was given to us when we took FPU, and it's not available online for free.  What it does is it breaks down all of the items in your monthly cash flow plan, and gives you space to decide when you'll make each payment during the month.  We have it all laid out so that we pay all of our bills on time.

Each week after we get paid, I write out on a separate sheet of paper what money is going in which account.  Then I make our transfers, since all of our paychecks are automatically deposited into the same account.

Hubby's checking is for most of our bills.  Internet, Netflix (which is our replacement for cable), Electric, etc. are automatically withdrawn from his account, so I leave those amounts in his account.

My checking is for any checks that we write.  It's the only account we have a checkbook for.  Out of that account comes tithe, Compassion, student loan payments, and car payments come out of that one.

My savings account is our emergency fund.  His savings is our short-term savings.

Notice the "IOU" in Toiletries - - we borrowed for babysitter, so the next time there is
budgeted money for a babysitter, we will put it in toiletries.

We take out cash for household expenses, which works SO well for us!  It's called the envelope system, and it's wonderful.  Instead of us both using our debit cards to make purchases like groceries, coffee, gas, and other expenses, we have cash set aside for each individual category.  It keeps us on budget.

The categories we budget for in our envelope system are:
Babysitter
Laundry
Gifts
Toiletries
Gas
Groceries
Baby Supplies
Date
Repairs

Happy Budgeting!

10 Reasons why I love NOT Owning a House

Sometimes it's hard looking into the future and not knowing when we'll be able to buy a house.  So it helps to look at all the things we love about renting, and to enjoy it while we can!  Because once we buy a house, none of these things will ring true - - probably ever again!

#1 - I feel safe
When I hear the neighbors next door, it makes me feel safe knowing that someone is there.  If I screamed, they'd hear.  When I hear a noise in the apartment, I can convince myself that it was the neighbors and not get freaked out.

#2 - It's less work
When something breaks, we don't have to fix it!  One call to maintenance and they're here unplugging the toilet, replacing the window lock, putting new batteries in the smoke detector (yes, I've called them to do this), or even installing our window air conditioner (all things we've actually had them do within the past year)!

#3 - It's less expensive
When something breaks, we don't have to pay for it (unless we broke it because of misuse, of course).

#4 - It's less expensive
We don't pay property taxes.

#5 - Did I mention it's less expensive??
Rent is significantly cheaper than a mortgage - - AND we're not in debt because of a house!  We're not paying interest each month, we're just paying to live here.

#6 - It forces us to simplify
Because we don't have much storage space, we don't have much stuff!  When we don't have room for something in the storage area, we have to get rid of something.  And I love it when that happens - - because it makes us think about how we might be able to bless someone even when we don't have much ourselves!  Baby clothes, furniture, DVDs, and games are all something that other people might be able to use that we just don't have the space for.

#7 - It's easier to clean
Smaller space means less time cleaning!  AND I don't have to worry about cleaning/painting the outside of our home, because that's done for us!

#8 - It's more sociable
When I go to get the mail, I run into my neighbors because we share a mailbox.  When my son plays in the back yard, he makes friends because we share a backyard with our neighbors.  It's much easier to get to know each other than if we had our own house.

#9 - There are rules
I know this may seem like a reason to want a house, and sometimes it is - - but I think that the rules put in place can actually be beneficial for our family.  For example, there's a no smoking in the apartments rule.  Now, we're not smokers - - and we don't plan to be.  But even if we wanted to, we'd have to take it outside.  In the dead of winter?  No thanks!  There's also a no pets rule.  By now we would have adopted a dog.  Trust me - - we don't need a dog right now.  Thank you, rules!

#10 - It will make me appreciate having a house even more when we get there
Right now is not the right time for us to own a house.  And that's okay!  The time we spend renting is preparing us for what's ahead.  I'm glad we are where we are right now, and I'm glad we're headed where we're headed!

Family Prayer Board

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." ~ Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

We have been trying so hard to pray as a family.  It's hard sometimes, though, to remember what we should be praying for - - and who we should be praying for.  I feel like so often I tell people I will pray for them - - and I always say a quick prayer right then, but I don't always follow through and continue to pray for them.

I came up with this idea while changing my son's diaper, actually - don't ask me why.  I wanted to make a display where we could write down things that we should be praying for.  Whenever someone asks for prayer, or whenever we have something that we should be praying about (or praising God for, certainly!) we now have somewhere to write it down.

All I did was bought a chalkboard from Staples, then used white paint to write "Prayers" on it.  Now we can write our prayers on the board, and we see them all the time.  Whenever we see it, we can say a prayer.

Lessons from 2013

About a year ago (at the turn of 2013), I posted what I had learned over the course of 2011-2012.  I was looking back on my posts from last January, just to see where I was a year ago.  It was so interesting to read about the lessons God had taught me in that time, which now seems so long ago.  My post from January 2013 made me want to write a similar one for this year: What I learned in 2013.

As I look back on my year, there is one theme that stands out in my mind: Community.  I have posted about this before, but it really was such a prevalent theme in my year, that it deserves a deeper look.

God has revealed to me three specific aspects of community in 2013 that I really don't want to forget.  The first is The Importance of Community.  If I were to be completely honest with myself (and those of you reading this post), I spend most of 2012 being lonely.  In fact, I have spend most of my life feeling lonely.  The longevity of my loneliness is probably the reason why I never really thought that there was anything else.  The importance of community never dawned on me until I truly experienced it.  When we moved to our current hometown, I was a little worried that we were moving further from family, but I was so excited to be near our church.  Even before we were here, God gave me a sense of peace that we would find new and long-lasting relationships when living closer to our church family.  That's exactly what our church became for us once we moved here: a family.  I can't imagine going back to the way things were before we were here.  Even on days when I don't see or talk to anyone but my kids and husband, I know that I have a support system here.  I know that there are people who genuinely care about me and who are really praying for me.

Photo taken by Kelley

That leads me to the second thing I learned in 2013: The Meaning of Having a Community.  It is one thing to go through the motions of church and not really get connected; it is something entirely different to experience the fellowship that church was designed to be, and to develop lasting relationships that make a difference in your life.  For me, having a community means that there are people whom I can ask for help (even though I'm not always good at that... I'm working on it!) when I'm in a tough spot.  It means that when I need prayer, there are people ready and so willing to pray for me.  Having a community means there are people to get out of the house with (or who will happily babysit my kids for me) when I get stir-crazy.  I have a support system that I know God is using to make me a better person.  Having a community sometimes means there will be people who call me out when I'm out of line.  They'll whip me back into shape so that I am being the best Elizabeth that I can be.  I am so grateful to have support systems in the forms of my small group, my accountability partner (which is someone I just paired up with this year - - and it's one of the best things I did in 2013!), the ministry I am part of at church, my neighbors, Facebook groups, MOPS, fellow staff members, and my family.


Photo taken by Tim



Photo from Jan's camera



Photo taken by Mark



Photo taken by Greg

The Meaning and Importance of Being Part of a Community is the third lesson that stands out to me from 2013.  I confess I am still working on this one (though, if I'm honest, I'm still working on all of these points).  As a part of the community, I have a responsibility to my friends.  It's not an obligation, though - - it's something I want to do as a member of the community.  I want to talk on the phone with these people, I want to help them take care of their kids, laugh with them, and lift them up in prayer.  I want to be by their side when they are hurting, and at their kids' birthday parties.  It is so meaningful to not only have the support system in place for myself, but to actually be that person for someone else!  I've been that person for people in the past, sure - - but never in the context of community like I've felt this past year.  It is for this reason that I am so grateful for these lessons that the Lord has taught me this year.

To those of you through whom God has taught me these lessons this year, thank you from the bottom of my heart!  Thank you for being my truest friends, and for sticking by me closer than a brother.

The Smaller Things

I've decided to stop stressing about what I accomplish during the day, and start enjoying the smaller things... because really, the smaller things are not small at all!

Today's accomplishments: I trimmed both the boys' nails, did one load of dishes, and cleaned up all of the toys in the house at the end of the day.  I also swept and mopped the downstairs quickly while waiting for our pizza to be delivered (yes, that's right - - I didn't even make dinner!!).

Today's joys: I snuggled with the Peanut, had lunch with the Love Bug, we went shopping with very few tears, I bought a new purse, and almost every time my son asked to sit in my lap, I was able to say yes!  I got some work done for church (which I consider pure joy).  I even got some quality time with my husband before he was called in to work today (last day of being on call, and he gets a three day weekend)!

I'm glad today's joys outweighed the accomplishments, because finding joy in what you do is so much more important than finishing tasks.

"The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy!" ~ Psalm 126:3

Gotta love nap time!

Boogers and Spray Paint

It all started this morning, when I looked down and realized that I still can't see my feet.  Yup, those three hours of painful contractions and pushing had only been a dream.  So with a couple of heaves I literally rolled myself out of bed and went downstairs to say goodbye to my husband.  He asked what I had planned for the day.  Well, nothing.  Maybe going into labor, so I can't really plan anything!  So he gives me a few ideas (errands, really) and heads out to work, phone on its loudest setting just in case.

By 9:15 I had:
- Showered
- Eaten breakfast, and fed the Love Bug
- Called the pediatrician
- Dressed the toddler
- Got out the door

Success!!  Already a productive day, in my book.

We went to the OBGYN to turn in my pre-registration paperwork for the hospital, and fill out my birth plan.  At the office I felt like supermom - - I was very patient, let Love Bug push all the buttons for the elevator and opening handicap doors.  I had even thought to bring along the Kindle so he could play while I did paperwork in the waiting room.  As I loaded my son back into the car, though, I noticed a streak of boogers across my coat that had obviously been there for a while.

Like any supermom, I went searching for the wipes that I keep in the car for just this reason.  The diaper bag was nowhere to be found.  Concluding that my prego brain must have put it in the freezer, I decided there was nothing left to do but continue my errands, snot and all.  So I proceeded to go to the bank (luckily I just had to use the ATM - - no people), gas station, Home Deopt, and Michaels.

Now, my son loves to shop.  One of the reasons he loves shopping is because he gets to greet everyone we come in contact with.  So as I'm pushing the cart around hoping nobody notices my son's runny nose that has made its way all over me, he's doing his best to make everyone in the store look at him.  "Hi! Hi! Hi," he says, until each person looks at him.  Adorable.

Boogers aside, I was able to get the things I need to make shelves for our new little Peanut's room!!  Now I just have to figure out where I can use spray paint...

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:14

Baking with a Toddler

Oh, my!  Baking with my toddler has proved to be the most patience-trying and rewarding thing we have done together in a long time!  If you haven't tried it, I highly suggest you do.  Just make sure you set up the atmosphere so that you will have as much patience as a cat waiting for her prey.  The Love Bug and I had so much fun!  We've baked an ice cream cake, a coffee cake, and cookies together so far!

 

The cookies, I have to say, were the biggest challenge for me.  We (yes, WE - - as in my toddler and I) had just swept the whole house, and then we decided to bake cookies from scratch...  lots of patience when he flung flour and cocoa all over himself and the kitchen!  He had so much fun, though, and it was fun to watch his face as he realized that we were making cookies that he could then eat!

 

 

Community

Community - - I've always thought I knew the meaning of the word.  Until today, when I realized that I had no concept of how to accept the community of others.

I have had an anxiety-filled day.  It shouldn't have been that way, but when you're 30 weeks pregnant and forced to do the one thing that you hate most in the world (yes, that just might be the hormones talking), the simplest of errands can feel like it ends in catastrophe.

On my way out the door to get some routine blood work done this morning, I wrote a Facebook post that many people do when they're feeling the way I felt: I asked for prayer.  When I got into the parking lot of the hospital, I said a prayer myself.  I prayed that God would give me peace, that He would provide me with a technician who really knew what they were doing, and that I would hardly feel the needle that I was fearing so much.

I wiped the tears from my eyes, grabbed my son out of the back seat, and headed in.  When I got to the front desk, the woman looked at me, with my toddler in my arms, and asked if I knew this was a one-hour test.  I told her I hadn't realized.  She then asked me if I had fasted.  No, I hadn't.  I'm pregnant and eat around the clock.  I told her I would figure out another time to come in, and left.

Anxiety spiked.  Now, instead of getting my blood work done in one quick swipe, I would have to sit around the office for an entire hour on an empty stomach.  Not only that, but I would have to figure out how to pay a babysitter for that time.  Financial stress was the last thing I needed.

When I got home I continued to feel Satan attacking me in a way he hasn't in a long time.  I felt everything caving in around me, and I didn't know what to do.  Then the Lord reminded me of the community around me.  The community that was the reason why we moved here in the first place.  He did so through several wonderful people.

Accepting help is not something I do easily.  Tomorrow morning before breakfast I will bring the Love Bug to a friend's house and get the dreaded blood work done without a toddler in toe.  What a blessing it is to have people surrounding me with prayers and love and support, and what an incredible added blessing that several friends have offered to actually help out!  I could not be more thankful.

I promise to make an effort to accept help more often, if you will promise to hold me to it?

Surviving Pregnancy

I hate being pregnant.  I mean, really hate it.  When I was pregnant with my first baby, I felt guilty for hating every second of it.  By now I've made my peace with it - - and I've realized that I'm not the only one who feels this way!

Whether you hate every living breathing moment of being pregnant or you cherish the miracle happening inside of you, we have to find a way to survive it, don't we?  I've been working on a list of products, attitudes, and activities that have helped me survive my pregnancies... and maybe even find some ways to enjoy it for a split second.

Summer's Eve Products
Have you ever heard of Summer's Eve?  It's this ingenious company that makes wash and deodorant for our lady parts.  If you are pregnant, or ever have been, you know how uncomfortable it is to realize how you smell down there... and there's really nothing we can do to stop it!  Summer's Eve products make me feel more feminine and certainly less... well, stinky.  I use the feminine wash at the end of every shower, and I use the deodorant every day at this point.

Take a Video of Your Belly Moving
Even if you don't want to share it with anyone, sit down and take a video of your moving belly - - it will cheer you up!!

Go for a Walk
Okay, I'm a lazy pregnant woman.  I sit on the couch and watch TV most of the day.  Walking up the stairs to change a child's diaper is way too much work!  Going for a walk is often the furthest thing from my mind - - but then I step outside out of necessity and realize what the fresh air can do for me!  And bringing my son for a walk is good for him, too - - he gets some energy out, which is wonderful for both of us!

Drink lots of Water
The doctor told me this when I was pregnant the first time, but I didn't want to listen (go figure!).  But drinking lots of water actually does make me feel better.  It helps with feet swelling, cramps, energy, and a whole lot more!

Sweatpants
I hate maternity pants.  So when I'm too big for my jeans (with a hair tie holding the button closed), I only wear sweatpants!!  Actually, this time around I picked up a $5 pair of jeans that are two sizes above what I usually wear and they fit great!  I need more sweatpants, though, because I always feel better being pregnant when I'm comfortable... and jeans are not really the way to do that.

Milk it!!
I've learned to enjoy the perks of being pregnant - - like having people wait on me hand and foot, rubbing my feet, and carrying things/holding doors for me.  I also have enjoyed eating whatever I want, whenever I want.  If I have a craving, it's a good enough reason for us to have that food for dinner!


What helps you survive pregnancy?

Waiting

I heard a statistic a long time ago about how long the average person spends in their life waiting for something.  If you Google it, you'll get all kinds of different answers.  Ask.com said that the average person spends 2 weeks waiting at red lights... then if you scroll down you'll see they also say 8 years for the same statistic.  Who knows?  All I know is it's a long time.

AnYwAyS... when I first heard whichever statistic I heard, I made a decision that I would never waste time waiting for something again.  I would always have something to do while I wait, whether it be homework (at the time I was in high school), memorizing scripture, ding a Sudoku puzzle... anything other than sitting around and waiting.

And yet here I sit, ten years later... waiting... for hubby to get home, for another life on Candy Crush, for the baby to come, for some clarity as to what I am to do with my life, for the baby to kick so I know that everything is still okay...

But perhaps waiting isn't the worst thing in the world?  Maybe it's while I wait that I have the time to relax, and start to hear the voice of God more clearly?  Maybe what I am willing to wait for says something about who I am.  Maybe waiting helps me to trust in God in a whole new way.

So I'll wait.  Maybe it won't always be patiently, but I will know that as I wait the Lord is working in me.

Easter Gifts for Childcare Workers

At my church, the nursery is almost always open - - something I am very grateful for, as the mother of a 14-month-old who loves to move around and talk (loudly) during service.

I wanted to give the nursery workers a small gift of appreciation for their dedication to helping young families like ours enjoy the services on Easter.  I have no money, and I am not very crafty.  This is what I came up with (and I'm a little proud of them!).

 

 

Cookies in baggies - - cost me no money because I had all the ingredients on hand... and the baggies as well.  I was tempted to run to the store and grab some (off-budget) cuter bags, but I resisted.

 

Those little flowers I have had in my crafting box for a long time now.  Same with the cardstock.

 

What are you doing for the childcare workers at your church this Easter?  Did this post inspire you?  Leave me some love!

 

7 Things that Every New Babysitter Should Know

We recently had a newbie babysitter watching our little love bug while we went out for a class in town.  She had watched him a few times at her house, under the "supervision" of her parents.  We were so excited to help this young lady out as she learned how to babysit.

I have been thinking a lot about my first babysitting experiences lately.  I started babysitting quite young.  When I started babysitting, I had already gained a lot of experience working with kids through my church.  There were a lot of things that I didn't know, though.  Here is a list of 10 things that every new babysitter should know - - from a new mom who started babysitting very young.

#7 - - Just because a child can crawl or walk doesn't mean s/he can get down from the couch or bed
Never leave a very young child unattended on the couch or bed.  If the child sleeps in a bed rather than a crib, you should be good.

#6 - - If you wouldn't call the parents to ask them, don't text them.
Although parents will tell you that you can text or call about anything, they don't want you to unless you really need to.  If you want to text them something positive, that's another story!  Especially if it's your first time babysitting for the family or if you had to pry the child off of mom's leg, text a picture of their child smiling!  Don't text the parents if it's not important enough for you to call them.  You will be interrupting their night out which they are paying you for.

#5 - - Sometimes it takes an hour or more to put a child to bed.
Don't be surprised if your first time babysitting it takes a very long time to get the child to go to sleep.  Try a variety of techniques, and make sure that you know the child's normal routine.  Remember that the first time you put a child to bed will set the stage for the rest of your babysitting visits.  Stand your ground - - bedtime means bedtime.

#4 - - Always clean up after yourself!!
This is a big one.  If you want to disappoint the parent, leave all the dishes in the sink and toys all over the floor.  If you want to impress the parent, do all the dishes and have everything cleaner than it was when you came!  Somewhere in between there is what you should always be doing, though - at least rinse the dishes that you used, and clean up the toys that the kids played with while you were there.

#3 - - Get back to the parents in a timely manner
When the parents text/call/email you, always get back to them as soon as you possibly can.  It's fine to ask your parents before you respond, but do it ASAP.  The parents of the kids that you babysit should never have to ask your parents anything for you.

#2 - - It's okay to tell the parents what you charge per hour
If you're a beginner babysitter, start out around $3/hour.  You can charge a different amount for each family for which you babysit based on how many kids they have and the ages.  Don't go over $5/hour, though.  We pay the babysitter that just started babysitting $3/hr and we pay the more experienced, college-aged babysitter $5/hr to watch our one-year-old son.

...and the #1 thing you need to know...

#1 - - Have fun!!

Devos - Tidbits

If you're following your devos with me, you should be reading somewhere around John 10, somewhere in the middle of James, and Proverbs 10.

Today is a really cool day for how the devos work out - - especially if you are starting over in the book of James.

This reading will bring us in to the beginning of meditations about Jesus' path to the cross.  Easter is on March 31 this year - - exactly 3 weeks from today.  As you go through the rest of the book of John, you will start to see Jesus willingly headed toward the cross to die for each of us.

John 10:14 "I am the good shepherd.  I know my sheep, and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father.  I give my life for the sheep."

We are the sheep.  If you want to dig a little deeper, listen to these sermons that my beloved pastor gave, and read Psalm 23.

Fearless (Pastor John Keller) - - he'll make one quick announcement that doesn't apply any more, then go in to the sermon.


Rest (Pastor Andy Sass) - - If you're only going to listen to one, choose this one!

Restore (Pastor Andy Sass) -

God's Thoughts (Pastor Andy Sass)

Devotions

Are you having a hard time getting into the habit of doing devotions?  Well, the first of the month is a great time to start!!

If you are a Christian and you have simply been having a hard time getting into God's Word, I highly recommend that you go through the following books of the Bible:

John

James

Proverbs

Let's take this one book at a time...

John
Open your Bible to John 1 and start reading.  When you feel you have gotten all you need out of it for the day, you stop reading.  In John this could be any amount from a few verses to three chapters.  It just depends on what God is speaking into your life each day.  When you come back tomorrow, you should be able to remember where you left off.  If you find yourself not paying attention to what you're reading, that's a clue that you should stop reading on John for that day.

You'll want to have finished John at least one time by the end of this month.  There are 21 chapters in John.  If you complete the whole book twice or more throughout the month, you're going too fast.  If you don't finish the book at all, you're going to slow.

James
After you read John, turn to James.  James was Jesus' half-brother.  He spent his childhood growing up with the Savior of the world.  This made him very wise.  James is my favorite book of the Bible.  You're going to do the same thing that you did with John, but you probably won't end up reading nearly as much of James each day.  Again, you should be able to come back the next day and remember where you left off.

You might go through James a few times this month.  When you finish the book, go back and start at the beginning.  You'll be surprised what different things God can say to you through the same book.

Proverbs
Proverbs is the last book that you'll read, and it has a specific amount that you will read.  There are 31 Proverbs - - perfect for going through them each month!!  So on the 1st of the month, you'll read Proverbs 1, on the 2nd you'll read the 2nd Proverb, and so on.  If you miss a day of devos, this is what will tell you.  Don't get discouraged, just read the Proverb that goes along with that day of the month - - even if it means that you have to skip a chapter.

When this month is over, check back here!  If I get a good response, I will keep up with giving you books of the Bible that will help you keep up with your devos.

Stay-At-Home Mama's Paycheck

This is just for fun today - - I was thinking about how much I might be paid if I were a "professional" Stay-at-Home Mom... here's what I came up with!

Choose how you would be paid, and calculate it!  It's fun :)

Childcare - - Minimum Pay $80.41/day, or $402.05/week
Classroom Teacher - Work 7:30-6:30, with two one-hour breaks for nap time = 9 hours a day at $7.25/hr
...if you have early childhood credits, add another $.25/hr for each credit
...if you have a college degree, add another $.75/hr

At the very minimum - - $65.25 per day

Daycare Director (if you push paperwork for your child's medical care, babysitters, etc.) - ~2 hours per month = 4 minutes/day at $10/hr
...if your child has special needs, add more time based on how much paperwork there is
...if you have a business degree, add another $5/hr
...if you have more than one child, double, triple, quadruple the time accordingly

At the very minimum - - $.66 per day

Extra Help (if you have children with special needs) - 2 hours per day at $7.25/hr
...if you have a degree in special education, you should be making around $10/hr (and add more if you have graduate degrees)
...depending on the extent of the needs of your child, add more time

At the very minimum - - $14.50 per day

Housework - - Minimum Pay $19/day, or $95/week
You'll have to calculate your own housework hours, based on how big your house is
Minimum 1 hour per day at an average of $15/hr
...if you have experience cleaning houses professionally, use the rate you used when you cleaned
...if you make your own cleaners, add in the hours spent making them and the money you saved your family

Laundry - - $4/load, averaging 1 load a day for a small family = $4/day, or $20/week
...if you wash your clothes by hand, calculate your pay hourly based on time you spend actively washing/hanging/folding clothes at $8/hr
...if you hang-dry your machine-washed clothes, add $.50 per load for saving your family money
...add another $1/hr per child in your family (add another $1/hr for each child if you hand-wash)

At the very minimum - - $4 per day

Bill Paying - - Minimum Pay $3.11/day, or $21.77/week
Taxes - Once a year, if you do your own $30/hour (add $5 for each year of experience you have doing this) for 3 hours

At the very minimum - - $.25 per day

($90 per year / 365 days)

 

Monthly Bills - $2 per bill you pay by writing the check and mailing, figure 5 bills a week

...if you have to go to the Post Office, add another $4 per trip for travel time

...if you have to walk across the street to get to the mailbox, add another $3 per crossing ($6 per trip to the mailbox) for the danger

At the very minimum - - $1.43 per day

($10 per week / 7 days)

 

Weekly Budget Meeting -2 hours a week at $5/hr = $10 per week

...if you have gone through any coursework that helps with budgeting, add another $3 per week

...if you stick to the budget, you get another $3 per week

At the very minimum - - $1.43 per day

($10 per week / 7 days)

Health Care - - Minimum Pay $4.29/day, or $30/week

Boo Boo Preparedness - Flat rate of $30/week

...if you have a degree in medicine, add however much you think that's worth

...if you have more than one child, add another $10 per week per child

...if you have boys, add another $5 per boy per week

...if you have toddlers between the ages of 13months-24months, add another $5 per toddler per week

At the very minimum - - $4.29 per day

($30 per week / 7 days)

 

Meal Preparation - - Minimum Pay  $15/day, or $105/week

Each Meal - $5 per meal (or $15 per day)

...if you cook from scratch, add in another $5 per meal

...if you ever bake, add another $2 per baked good you make each week on average

...if you use organic ingredients, add another $1 per meal

...if you cook for guests at least once every week, add another $10 per week

...if you have more than 4 people to cook for (including yourself), add another $1 per meal

...if you make separate meals for different kids because of picky eaters or allergies, count those meals separately

At the very minimum - - $15 per day

 





Minimum Yearly Pay: $33,998.64

So... can your hubby afford to pay you?

This certainly isn't meant to downgrade what our hubbies do to support our families.  It's just fun to look at, and hopefully will boost your spirits the next time you feel like what you are doing isn't worthwhile.  Above all else, remember what God says about our job:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

~ Colossians 3:23

Daily Bread Box

I don't know what gave me the idea for this box - - though I can't imagine it's an original idea.  I have been having trouble spending daily time in God's Word, and as I was thinking about how I wanted to arrange our new apartment, I came up with this idea!

God's Word is supposed to be our daily bread - - meaning His Word is what fills us up, and we need it every day.  I need to get better at this, so I came up with the daily bread box.  The little box that clementines come in is how I started.  When we had finished eating up those yummy clementines, I got to work decorating my box!

The theme in my new kitchen is quilting.  I made this utensil canister at my beloved Splatters Studio, and that is what I am creating my kitchen based off of.

To make your Daily Bread Box, you'll need:

• Empty Clementine Box
• Scrapbooking paper
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Newspaper
• Staple Remover (Scissors work, too)
• A space away from any kiddos

 *I couldn't find a paint brush in my house to save my life, so I used a sock.  I am a firm believer that if you have to buy supplies to make a craft, it isn't saving you money.  I didn't want to invest any money in this craft.

Step One - - Remove Staples
The first thing to do is to get those extra staples out of your box.  It was a little difficult just using scissors, but I managed to get all of them!  Be careful as you do this to not take out the staples that are actually holding the box together.

Step Two - - Mod Podge
After all your staples are out, you can start in with your Mod Podge!  You'll want your paper cut out beforehand so that your Mod Podge doesn't dry out as you're cutting.

How To Mod Podge:

Mini-Step One - - Glob the stuff on surface

Put a nice glob of Mod Podge all over the surface, as big as your first piece of paper that you are gluing down.

Mini-Step Two - - Place paper on the Mod Podge

Place your paper on the Mod Podge.  You'll want to smooth it out so that there are no air bubbles underneath it, and so your paper is tight against the surface of your craft.

Mini-Step Three - - Paint Mod Podge over the paper

Mod Podge is glue that you put under and on top of your paper.  It will make the surface smooth and glossy.

Step Three - - Let Dry
This is an important step.  Give your Daily Bread Box plenty of time to dry.  If you touch it before it completely dries, you'll be left with paper shreds coming off of the area you touched.

Step Four - - Fabric Paint
I used fabric paint to create stitching on my box (quilting theme).  I also used it to write Daily Bread Box on it!

This craft could totally be done many different ways.  I can imagine that staining the wood would look very cool, or you could even go more primitive and paint it.  If you make a Daily Bread Box and do it differently, send me the link and I'll link it here in my post!!

Happy Crafting!

Valentine's Day - - Be Thankful

I was browsing on Facebook when I came across a friend's status update that was so uplifting I just had to share it with you!

My husband doesn't usually surprise me with flowers or candy. He doesn't whisk me off on romantic getaways or escort me around to the finest restaurants. I don't have an expensive engagement ring and I won't find any little boxes on Valentine's Day. What my husband does do outweighs anything he doesn't. He wakes up everyday, prepared to be the leader of our home. He loves me unconditionally and will put our family's needs in front of his wants. I rest assured that I can depend on him in any situation and we will come out stronger than before. If Valentine's Day is meant to celebrate anything, I will be celebrating the love of a godly man ♥

This Valentine's Day, don't focus on what your husband doesn't do for you.  Don't think about the candy you were hoping for, the flowers he hasn't bought you, or the getaway you had been planning in your daydreams.  Remember why you married your man, and thank him as well as God for the blessings he brings to you and to your family.

52 Reasons I am Thankful for my Husband

• He provides for our family - - no matter how difficult
• He makes sure that I am relaxed and have time for myself
• He prays with me
• He happily plays with our son
• He always goes to work
• He is an excellent employee
• He holds me at night
• He tells me that he loves me
• He brings me home little treats once in a while
• He comes home from a 12 hour shift and does housework
• He cares a great deal about the wellbeing of our son
• He loves our son
• He stands up for our family
• He encourages me
• He puts the Love Bug to bed each night
• He doesn't whine
• He is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry
• He has a great conscience
• He is tidy (for the most part!)
• He values our relationship enough to stay up all night to work out an argument
• He is my best friend
• He supports me in my decisions
• He tells me what he honestly thinks, and does so kindly
• He compliments me
• He loves me unconditionally
• He loves the Lord
• He is musical
• He is inventive
• He can fix anything... sometimes just by touching it!
• He doesn't swear
• He speaks well of people
• He controls his anger
• He asks me my opinion
• He was so patient with me when I was pregnant and hormonal
• He will never leave me
• He'll buy me feminine products
• He's hot
• He has a unique smile
• He only has eyes for me
• He loves making me smile
• He loves making our son laugh
• He saved himself for me
• He reminds me to take Midol when I'm cramping
• He is humble
• He's creative
• He helps me feel safe
• He protects our family
• He turns the lights off and locks the doors at night
• He takes his time making big decisions
• He is very generous
• He keeps his word
• He supports me in my goals

Go text your hubby and tell him one thing you're thankful for about him!!

15 Ways to Save Your Marriage

 

If you want to save your marriage, Jesus is the only way!  Soak up all the good Words of God that you can, and work hard to apply them to your marriage.

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3

Don't dwell on what he's doing or not doing, focus on what you can do better.  Here are some starting points:

1. Communicate Better is open rebuke than hidden love.  Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5-6
2. Have sex - often May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.  A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs 5:18-19
3. Speak well of your husband behind his back A wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. Proverbs 12:4
4. Encourage him As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
5. Write notes for him to find throughout the day Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. Proverbs 12:25
6. Listen to him To answer before listening - that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13
7. Be prudent with your money, especially if your husband is the only wage-earner Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14
8. Remain faithful to your husband A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10
9. Realize that love is a verb - - it's what you do, not what you feel Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12
10. Be his best friend A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17
11. Spend daily time with the Lord Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
12. Talk together about God The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
13. Forgive him A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11
14. Live by God's standards Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Proverbs 3:7
15. Don't be ashamed to get counseling from a Christian counselor Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? Proverbs 8:1

10 Reasons I'm Grateful for our Struggles

We just moved out of our teeny-tiny one-bedroom apartment into a three-bedroom townhouse.  Can I just say "aaaahhhhh."  Space to breathe!!

As happy as I am here, and as pleased as I am that we are out of that season of our lives - - I am also so grateful for the time we spent in that apartment.  Here's why...
 
10.  It taught me to be creative in how I keep house
9.  What a blessing it was to be in an apartment that we could afford!!
8.  We got to live close to family for a season
7.  Our landlord restored our faith in all landlords (and it was so nice to have a Christian landlord!)
6.  So many memories were made in that home <3 
5.  Living in the apartment helped us realize the importance of getting out for a date night.
4.  We met people who truly blessed us
3.  The tiny apartment helped us to realize how blessed we were to even have a place to live!
2.  Living in a small space brought us closer as a family.
1.  The experience helped us to look forward to and enjoy the blessings of our new home in ways that nothing else could!