my worst enemy

This is just one of the many things that stands between me and that swimsuit I am hoping to wear while at the lake this summer. From the looks of things, I might be in a tank top and shorts...

my girl

Seriously, how can you love someone else so much? And, what did I ever do with myself before she was here?


She loves her bath time and so do I. She kicks and laughs and has a ball. I love the way she smells when she is all clean!

I think this was last weekend, because she and Shawn are both still in their PJ's. Precious times!

money, money, money, muuuuuney

Many of you know this about me, but some may not. I have found a new love for couponing and living frugally. Now - that does not mean that I do not enjoy myself some pretty new shoes or fancy doodag every now and again...but I guess it just means that I try to be more aware of what I buy and how much I spend on it. I still struggle with making the choice between the NEEDS in my life and the WANTS. Do I really NEED those boots? I mean really, what about the other 3 pair in my closet that wait every morning to be picked? Do I really NEED that new scented candle or will my other one do until it burns out? It is a struggle every time I enter a store, but I am working on it! The pain of not owning something when I walk out of a store subsides over time.

Before I met Shawn I had some serious money management issues. If I had $25 left in my bank account I never sweated it. I might even go to Wal*Mart for that "thing" I HAD to have and end up with $10 in my account. The concept of saving wasn't necessarily foreign to me (I had good parents growing up) it just wasn't appealing. You know that rush you get when you buy something? Well let's just say I had a mini addiction to it. Thank God I do not have to re-live that first year of marriage (I love you honey) because it was, well... a little not so fun. You see, Shawn wanted me to think about what I spent before I spent it. Can you imagine the nerve of that guy!? Let's just say there were many moments of theatrical greatness as I tried and cried to get my way. I just knew I was the most mistreated wife in the world. Thankfully, he kept me around and has had the great patience to help teach me about money over the years.

Obviously, now that I stay home I don't really have the choice of spending when I feel like it. Well, I guess I still could, but I am pretty sure that would be a rough road to go down and I'd rather not be the reason our family is in over our heads. And this is where it can get tricky and satan has a finger grip on me. See, I don't bring home any money....and satan wants me to feel like I don't contribute to the family, that I am a loser, and that I am of no value. I work every day to fight these degrading thoughts and if I am being honest, some days I win and some days I fall into that pit. I am praying that God will show me some verses in His Word for the upcoming scripture memorization so that I can fight satan's lies with God's truth.

So, here is my goal this week as far as living frugally and using coupons. I am going to attempt to spend $60 on a full week's worth of groceries - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you see me at Wal*Mart with my coupons, my calculator, and a focused stare...you'll know I haven't lost my mind! Organizing Junkie does a Menu Plan Monday every week and although this isn't Monday (I hope that is okay!) I am going to post the plan I have for next week. Then, I am going to go to the grocery store - or Wal*Mart -or wherever has the best deals and attempt to get everything I need for $60 or under. I am hoping for under. Wish me luck!!

Breakfasts (in no particular order)
banana & frozen fruit smootie, toast
granola & yogurt (ick, I hate this stuff, but it is good for me...it is good for me....it is good for me)
scrambled eggs and cheese
apple muffins, fruit
cereal, toast x2
pancakes, juice (I may even throw in some chocolate chips, yummy-I am salivating)

Lunches
salad, grilled chicked strips
PB&J, carrots
leftovers x2
baked potato, broccoli
lunchmeat sandwich, oranges
cheese quesadillas, fruit

Dinners
taco Soup (crockpot)
roast w/potatos and carrots (crockpot)
steak, mashed potatos, asparagus
ham (crockpot) homeade bread, salad,
BBQ chicken pizza
beef enchiladas, salad
Dinner Out (Oh, I hope!!!) or leftovers :(

When I stand before the Lord, I’ll be standing alone
This journey is my own
Still I want man’s advice, and I need man’s approval
This journey is my own

Why would I want to live for man, and pay the highest price
What does it mean to gain a whole world, only to lose my life

So much of what I do is to make a good impression
This journey is my own
And so much of what I say is to make myself look better
But this journey is my own

And why would I want to live for man, and pay the highest price
And what does it mean to gain a whole world, only to lose my life

And I have never felt relief like I feel it right now
This journey is my own
Cuz trying to please the world, it was breaking me down
It was breaking me down

And now I live and I breathe for an audience of one
Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one
Now I live and I breathe for an audience of one
Cuz I know this journey is my own

And why would I want to live for man, and pay the highest price
And what does it mean to gain a whole world, only to lose my life
And you can live for someone else, and it will only bring you pain
I can’t even judge myself, only the Lord can say, ‘Well done.’

Oh, this journey is my own
~Sara Groves

haha

It's a good thing I can laugh at myself! Yesterday I posted about how we are finally getting back on a schedule and how it was working so well. Why Oh Why did I post that?!?! It seems like we have had the MOST off schedule day ever around here today. Little Miss Lauren decided today was the day to cut one of her bottom teeth. She has been very irritable and fussy all morning. She didn't eat well, had about a 30 minute nap, and refused to go back to sleep. Of course she acts fine when I am holding her or when I am within two feet of her, but the moment I put her down or walk away she throws the biggest fit! She is finally resting now...poor thing. I've got to go get things done, but I thought I would share how my day has gone so far!

back to reality

Now that we are back home, I am trying to get back into a routine of sorts. One thing that we have been working on around here is trying to get little Miss Lauren on a better schedule. For the past couple of weeks she hasn't been sleeping through the night like normal and her napping has been very unpredictable. So, I decided it was time to stop rocking her to sleep (I know, I am a horrible mother!!!)
Basically our routine before bed looks like this: bath or lotion massage, last feeding, read a story, then rice cereal. After she eats her rice cereal Shawn and I both give her kisses and put her in her bed. We leave the room and she usually fusses for about 15 minutes. She doesn't cry, just talks and winds down I think. We have to give her her binky a couple of times and pat her back but she will finally fall asleep on her own!!! I am so proud of her. She goes to bed between 8 and 8:30 and will sleep until about 5:30 or 6!
She still eats every 3 hours during the day, so a normal day for us includes eating, changing diapers, playing, bouncing in her jumper, and reading books. Then, she starts getting tired, so I put her down for a nap the same way we do at night. I give her hugs and kisses and just leave. It takes anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes for her to fall asleep, but she is doing it ON HER OWN! This frees up a lot of my day as I am not having to rock her down then pray that she doesn't wake up when I lie her down. She sleeps about an hour and a half at a time.
While she sleeps I try to get caught up on the house or blog or take a shower and prepare for the day.
One of the hardest things I faced with staying home was the lack of any sort of schedule. I came from a career that was very scheduled and organized and I think that I need that to feel accomplished and at ease in my life. I am happier when I have goals and checklists! I do think that God is teaching me to be more flexible and easy going about things and I am trying very hard to learn these things! If anyone has any ideas/strategies/ success stories with any of this I'd love to hear from you!

P.S. I am so encouraged by the number of friends and family that are taking the scripture memorization challenge with me! Girls, let's not let this be something that falls by the wayside in 2009. I am rooting for you and am anxious to see how God uses these personal scriptures to help some of us out of areas of sin or strongholds that are bringing us down (I know I have some areas that I pray God will work me through). I am also excited to see how God uses these scriptures to make us warriors for him in this crazy world! Let's Do This!

happy new year

I am really excited about having a "Jesus Year" in 2009. I am dying for a deeper relationship and a greater knowledge of my Lord.

The first verse I have chosen to memorize is:

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God
Proverbs 2:4-5

I chose this verse because I feel like I can't embark on a journey of memorization without first acknowledging that the task ahead will not be easy. I will have to actually work at this. Thankfully, God wants this for me and for anyone who is taking this challenge. I believe that the reward will be a deeper understanding of the love my God has for me (hard to fathom) and what He wants for me in this life.